local
Texas leaders are asking data centers how much water they use. Most aren’t responding
By Guest Contributor at Odessa American (oaoa.com)
· June 24, 2026
· 5 min read
A member of the public wears a “Don’t data center my Texas” pin on the back of their hat while waiting for the Natural Resource Committee to convene on June 23, 2026. Credit: Aiden Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune
By Alejandra Martinez, The Texas Tribune
Data centers need a lot of water and energy. Sta...
Key takeaway With more than 248 proposed data centers, Texas is challenging Virginia to become the No.
Why this matters in The Odessa
The lack of response from data center companies to the state's water usage survey is particularly concerning for Odessa and the surrounding Permian Basin area, where water conservation is a longstanding priority. As the region considers its own share of proposed data center projects, local residents and officials will be watching closely to see how the state's new oversight measures play out. The fact that less than a third of surveyed companies responded to the survey suggests that data centers may not be taking the state's calls for transparency seriously, which could have significant implications for local water resources. With Governor Abbott's recent directives aimed at ensuring that data centers bear the costs of their own infrastructure, Odessa residents may wonder what this means for their own utility bills and water availability in the face of growing industrial demand.
About this story
Original reporting by Odessa American (oaoa.com) . The Odessa surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Odessa American (oaoa.com) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 24, 2026 ·
Source: Odessa American (oaoa.com) ·
Reading time: 5 min
Get more The Odessa stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering local and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A member of the public wears a “Don’t data center my Texas” pin on the back of their hat while waiting for the Natural Resource Committee to convene on June 23, 2026. Credit: Aiden Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune
By Alejandra Martinez, The Texas Tribune
Data centers need a lot of water and energy. Sta...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 24, 2026 by Odessa American (oaoa.com) and curated for The Odessa readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Guest Contributor at Odessa American (oaoa.com). To learn more about how The Odessa selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Odessa, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter