Texas has more data center sites on offer than any other state and, in late 2026, more rules about who gets power and when. Most of the state runs on ERCOT, where SB 6 and the PUCT’s large-load rules now govern any new load of 75 MW or more. Sites under 75 MW, energized sites, and sites outside ERCOT are where most deals close fastest. Invariant lists energized Texas sites from 3 MW to 44 MW with expansion to 250 MW.
Before you start
- SB 6 applies to new or expanded ERCOT loads of 75 MW and up, with a $100,000 study fee and financial security.
- Since August 3, 2026, ERCOT has not approved energization of new data centers or crypto loads of 75 MW or more, and TCEQ has paused data center permits statewide.
- El Paso, the Panhandle and parts of East Texas sit outside ERCOT, on their own utility tariffs.
- Energized sites under 75 MW are the fastest path in Texas right now.
Data center sites available in Texas
These Texas sites are in Invariant’s current inventory. Specs are as marketed by the owner and are checked against utility documents before any introduction.
| Region | Power | Land | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas metro | 44 MW, +250 MW | ~50 acres, 1M sq ft | Now |
| Texas (Houston load zone) | 17 MW greenfield | ~2 acres | 4 to 6 months |
| Texas (Houston) | 3 MW ERCOT | Leased | Now |
| US | 20 earlier listings, 0.25 to 30 MW | Various | Status on a call |
Exact locations, the utility documents behind each MW figure and pricing are shared on a call. We also hold sites that are not listed publicly; owners ask for discretion and a site that is shopped everywhere loses value.
ERCOT and large loads
SB 6, passed in 2025, set new rules for loads of 75 MW and above in ERCOT: study fees, disclosure of on-site generation, curtailment during emergencies and terms for co-located generation. The PUCT adopted rules under it in 2026. ERCOT replaced one-by-one studies with Batch Zero, a combined study of the large-load queue.Texas Legislature OnlineERCOT
For a buyer, that splits Texas in two. Loads under 75 MW, or already energized, move on normal utility timelines. Larger new loads wait for the batch process and the end of the pause.U.S. Energy Information Administration
Where Texas sites come from
Mining campuses in West and Central Texas, industrial brownfields around Houston and Dallas, and energized sites in the Houston load zone are the bulk of what we see. ERCOT’s demand response programs, where flexible loads earn revenue for curtailing, are part of the value of many mining sites. AI tenants usually want firm service instead.ERCOT
How to screen a Texas data center site
- Confirm the serving utility and the grid operator, then ask which document backs the MW: a will-serve letter, a load study or a signed agreement.
- Check that the substation has headroom for your load under contingency. Distance to a line is not capacity.
- Screen the county and any city that could annex the site for moratoriums, recent denials and the zoning path.
- Work out usable acres after wetlands, floodplain, slope, easements and setbacks, and reserve room for the substation.
- Kill sites that are already claimed, operating for someone else, contaminated or owned by an environmental liability buyer before spending on parcels.
Invariant runs this screen on every Texas site before an introduction and grades the result A, B or C by power evidence. Tell us your MW and date and we will send the Texas sites that fit, including off-market ones.
Browse data center sites by size and state
Questions that come up.
Can I still get a large data center site in Texas in 2026?
Yes, with limits. New ERCOT loads of 75 MW and above face SB 6 rules, Batch Zero studies and a pause on energization approvals since August 2026. Energized sites, sites under 75 MW and sites outside ERCOT can move faster.ERCOTTexas Legislature Online
What is the 75 MW threshold in Texas?
SB 6 and the PUCT rules apply to new or expanded large loads of 75 MW or more in ERCOT. They require a study fee, financial security, disclosure of backup generation and curtailment terms.Texas Legislature Online
How do I find a data center site in Texas?
Start from power evidence, not land: confirm the serving utility, the document behind the MW and substation headroom, then screen local approval and usable acres. Invariant does this for buyers and currently lists Texas sites at 44 MW, +250 MW, 17 MW greenfield, 3 MW ERCOT, 20 earlier listings, 0.25 to 30 MW. Book a call or call (628) 220-8972.
Sources and references.
Site specifications are as marketed by the seller and are checked against utility documents before any introduction. Public sources checked on . The location, equipment, and operating plan determine which requirements apply to a project.
- Texas Legislature OnlineSenate Bill 6, 89th Legislature ↗
- ERCOTBatch Zero update, September 2026 ↗
- Office of the Texas GovernorGovernor Abbott directs TCEQ to halt data center permits ↗
- Utility DiveTexas PUC adopts data center interconnection rules ↗
- ERCOTLoad participation in ERCOT markets ↗
- PacesGrid planning for data centers and transmission investment ↗
- U.S. Energy Information AdministrationTexas state energy profile ↗