Texas Governor-elect Democrat Gina Hinojosa says she is not opposed to data centers but under her watch Big Tech can’t just do anything they want.
Texas governor-elect Gina Hinojosa has warned major technology companies, including Elon Musk’s businesses, that they will no longer be allowed to operate in the state without safeguards for local communities, saying their practice of taking advantage of Texans “stops when I’m governor”. In an interview with CNN, Hinojosa said data centres had expanded in largely rural parts of Texas without adequate regulations, leaving residents vulnerable to the impact of these projects. “Right now, what has happened is data centres have moved into mostly rural communities, and there are no rules and laws to protect Texans, and Texans are being taken advantage of,” she said. And that stops when I’m governor,” she said. “We have always been a pro-business state in Texas, but what changes now with me as governor is it has to be a partnership that benefits Texans,” she said. The governor-elect said local communities must have a say in deciding whether data centres should be built in their areas and under what conditions. She told CNN that different parts of Texas had different needs and that residents should be able to walk away from negotiations if companies did not meet their demands. “Selling our beach to Elon Musk is just something that is almost unimaginable,” she said, calling the proposal “unacceptable”.
“Is not that I hate data centres. I hate the way they are taking advantage of Texas. She added that Texas could continue to attract businesses while ensuring that residents were protected.