RELEASE: Hinojosa Takes the Fight to the Panhandle as Abbott’s Data Center Recommendations Deadline Passes
Hinojosa: “No one believes the arsonist will put out the fire.”
The Panhandle, TX – During her weekend swing in the Panhandle, Democratic nominee for Texas Governor Gina Hinojosa met with rural Texans about their concerns on data centers at a series of roundtables, a town hall, and by visiting one of the world’s largest planned data center sites.
While Hinojosa talked to local Texans worried about data centers, Greg Abbott’s July 17 deadline for ERCOT and PUC’s recommendations to “shield Texans” from data centers quietly went unanswered to the public.
“After spending the weekend listening to the Texans on the ground fighting back against the data centers threatening their communities, it’s clear that no one believes the arsonist will put out the fire,” said Hinojosa. “Abbott is attempting a desperate flip-flop on the data center boom he created. His letter to ERCOT and the PUC was all talk and no action, empty promises to lower transmission costs while actual rules remain unchanged. The performative deadline he gave them has passed without public action. Texas families shouldn’t have to wait through an election year for relief. It’s time for the people, not Abbott’s donors, to decide the future of our grid.”
Check out the stops from the Panhandle swing below.
In Lubbock, Hinojosa stopped at J&B Coffee where she met with local leaders and residents, and listened as they shared their concerns about the data centers. “People are fighting a fight that is reasonable. People just want power over their communities, they want a say over what is happening, they want basic information on what data centers are doing to our communities and our resources,” said Hinojosa.
In Amarillo, Hinojosa visited the site of the proposed massive Fermi Matador project, where she walked the site of what will be the largest data center in the world with local leaders who are fighting back to protect their communities.
Hinojosa ended her tour hosting another community roundtable with local leaders, and a town hall packed with local residents where she reaffirmed her commitment to public schools, putting money in your pocket, and combating data centers.
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