Likely Texas voters say they are concerned about how data centers could affect electricity prices, water supply and power outages, according to a new poll from the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs. The poll found 69% of likely voters are very concerned about electricity prices and water supply, and 65% say the same about power outages. Fewer than 20% are not very concerned in those categories.
Mark Jones, a Rice University Baker Institute political science professor and co-author of the report, said partisanship is the main factor in the results. He said Democrats are much more negative about data centers than Republicans, and that a majority of Republicans are also concerned.
Jones said 76% of those surveyed believe their electricity bills would rise as local governments collect more tax revenue from data center construction. Most respondents also said they believe data center development would lower their home values. The poll found most respondents think AI would hurt rather than help the economy, education and society over the next 10 years.
The story notes that Gov. Greg Abbott has moved to pause permits for data centers. Jones said data centers were not a major issue before and called this the first election cycle in which they have been a major campaign issue in Texas.