Key Facts

• The assessment modeled emissions of nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide, fine particulate matter and carbon dioxide through 2031.
• From 2002 to 2024, Texas power-generation emissions fell by 67 percent for nitrogen oxides, 80 percent for sulfur dioxide, 37 percent for volatile organic compounds, 52 percent for carbon dioxide and 60 percent for fine particulate matter.
• In the study’s grid-supply scenario, nitrogen oxide emissions in 2031 would approach levels last recorded around 2004.
• In that same scenario, volatile organic compound emissions would exceed their 2002 level by 32 percent, while fine particulate matter emissions would reach about their 2006 level.
• The study found nitrogen oxide emissions could be two to 10 times higher if data centers burn fuel to generate power than under a mix of grid electricity, solar and wind.
• The study said even its cleanest energy scenario would increase emissions because data centers require large amounts of electricity.
• In August, Governor Greg Abbott’s office said ERCOT was considering more than 474 gigawatts of grid connection requests, about 90 percent of them from data centers.
• Abbott ordered an audit of data-center projects seeking grid connections and later directed the Texas environmental agency to halt data-center permit processing until the audit was completed.