Batch Zero Process Pauses to Mull Audits for Texas Data Centers
Did Texas Data Centers Derail Batch Zero? State officials plan to audit Texas data centers in the Batch Zero process to learn more details about their energy use. Texas data centers have hit a roadblock. ERCOT has paused its Batch Zero process while state officials take a closer look at the huge number of projects seeking to connect to the grid. The review could affect future electricity prices , grid costs, and the pace of data center growth across Texas. The pause comes after ERCOT received an eye-popping amount of large-load requests. The queue now includes about 474 gigawatts of requests , most of them tied to data centers. That is more than five times ERCOT's record peak demand. However, a request to connect does not mean a project will actually get built. Why Did ERCOT Pause Batch Zero? Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT to conduct a full review of data centers moving through the interconnection process. Until that work is done, new...