A Floodlight investigation has found that data centres are rapidly proliferating across Texas, often building large fossil-fuel power plants with minimal public scrutiny. The report centres on OpenAI's flagship "Stargate" data centre in Abilene, whose 360-megawatt on-site gas plant sits just 500 yards from the home of resident Omaira Garcia, who says she learned of the project only after construction began. It matters because these facilities emit significant pollution yet have sidestepped the rigorous environmental reviews and community consultation normally required for major emitters.

Texas already hosts around 300 data centres, with 200 more planned, and could overtake Virginia as the nation's leading market by 2030. Critics say developers exploit a loophole by securing "minor" air permits — the kind used for dry cleaners and petrol stations — which require no environmental studies, public notice or comment periods, often alongside non-disclosure agreements. Researchers warn Texas has more than 80 gigawatts of new gas capacity in the pipeline, roughly half earmarked for data centres. Nine planned plants alone could emit over 130 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, comparable to 35 coal-fired power stations, risking a long-term lock-in of fossil fuels.