The governor is asking the wrong question about data centers

This week the governor did something rural Texans have been asking Austin to do for two years: he told state regulators that data centers — not households — should pay for the power lines their machines demand, and he called for an end to some of the tax breaks that lured them here in the first place.

His directive orders state regulators to reduce the risk that ordinary Texans subsidize data center growth, calls for new reporting of electricity and water use, encourages water-efficient cooling technologies, and proposes ending certain tax incentives while studying additional ways to reduce impacts on local communities.

It's a real step, and I'll give credit where it's due.