TCEQ Approves Air Permit for Controversial Data Center Power Plant
News related to:NRG Prairie Energy Center LLC · 2 min read
MAYPEARL, TX, UNITED STATES, October 12, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has issued a preliminary decision to approve an air permit for NRG Prairie Energy Center LLC’s 1.2 GW power plant, despite Governor Greg Abbott’s directive to pause data center project approvals. This decision has sparked widespread opposition from the Maypearl community, which has seen numerous “NO Data Center” signs pop up across county roads and in neighborhoods between Maypearl, Itasca, and Grandview, Texas. More than 4,000 area residents have signed a petition opposing the facility.
The proposed 1.2 GW power plant, to be built and operated by NRG in rural Hill County, is intended to power a 8 million-square-foot hyperscale data center. The development would occupy approximately 2,850 acres and include 24 data center buildings, totaling more than 8 million square feet, along with six electrical substations and an onsite wastewater facility discharging into Chambers Creek. The project is located on Farm-to-Market Road 66, about 800 feet from the Ellis County line, where it avoids stricter pollution controls.
David Rogers, whose family’s historic 152-year-old ranch would share a fence line with the proposed development, expressed strong opposition. Tim McKibben, whose family ranch is located across F.M. 66 from the proposed site, echoed these sentiments.
NRG Prairie Energy Center LLC has faced criticism for its strategic location of the power plant. The company has labeled its emissions calculations as "trade secrets," keeping them from public review, and much of the information released remains heavily redacted.
The TCEQ’s decision to move forward with the air permit approval has raised concerns among residents, who feel that the permitting process is continuing despite Governor Abbott’s recent directive. Residents are urging the TCEQ to follow Governor Abbott’s directive and reconsider the permit.
The project would bring significant changes to the rural landscape. It would occupy approximately 2,850 acres and include 24 data center buildings, totaling more than 8 million square feet, along with six electrical substations and an onsite wastewater facility discharging into Chambers Creek. The development is strategically located on Farm-to-Market Road 66, about 800 feet from the Ellis County line, where it avoids stricter pollution controls.
The community has been vocal in its opposition, with more than 4,000 area residents signing a petition against the facility. The project’s scale and the lack of transparency in the permitting process have fueled the community’s concerns.
The TCEQ’s decision to issue the preliminary air permit has further intensified the community’s opposition. The community is now calling on the TCEQ to reconsider its decision and respect the governor’s directive.
The project’s location and the community’s opposition highlight the ongoing tension between economic development and local concerns. The TCEQ’s decision to move forward with the air permit approval has raised significant questions about the balance between state directives and local input.