The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has issued a preliminary decision to approve an air quality permit for NRG Energy’s proposed 1.2-gigawatt Prairie Energy Center in Hill County, near Maypearl. The natural gas plant is designed to power a large hyperscale data center.
The decision moves the project forward despite Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s recent directive for state agencies to pause permitting for data center projects while the state audits their impact on the grid and resource supply.
The project faces local opposition, with thousands of residents signing a petition against it. The TCEQ decision now enters a public comment period before the commission makes a final determination.