Vikki’s Data Center Pledge

I, Representative Vikki Goodwin, pledge to protect Texas water and put the people and animals of Texas first. As Lt. Governor, I will prioritize bills that regulate data centers and protect our water, land, health, and access to electricity.

We need to pass legislation that:

• Protects our access to, and quality of, water. Without a law that says people and animals drink first, land owners, farmers and ranchers, and local governments have to fight data centers for access to their own water.

• Makes data center companies responsible for the cost of their electricity and water use. Your prices shouldn’t be higher because a data center is coming to town.

• Gives county governments legal power and financial support to protect their communities from data centers – and the lawsuits data centers bring against communities trying to regulate or ban them.

• Creates real consequences for companies that refuse to report their water usage. We can’t make decisions without data, and data centers have no incentive to report their actual water and electricity usage or projected usage.

• Requires detailed studies before data centers can be built. We need to fully understand the environmental impacts, health risks, agricultural and ranching impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, PFAS pollution, water use, and electricity consumption estimates so communities and elected leaders can make informed decisions about data centers.