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2026
Blog

Responsible Growth Is the Right Standard for Texas Data Centers

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Texas has become one of the most important markets in the world for AI infrastructure. That growth brings enormous opportunities. How the state manages that growth will shape not only the future of digital infrastructure, but also the reliability and affordability of electricity for the families, businesses, and communities that depend on it.

That is why we welcome Governor Greg Abbott's call for greater transparency and a comprehensive review of data center development in Texas. Clear expectations around power use, resources, and community impact are good for Texas, good for the grid, and good for the operators building the right way. We support these efforts because they reflect the standards we have long sought to uphold.

Why this matters

As of mid-2026, ERCOT was tracking more than 438,000 megawatts of large-load requests, nearly 89% of them from data centers. Not every project that requests power can be delivered power. Sorting the two out, in a way the grid can reliably support, is exactly the kind of discipline Texas is now bringing to the process.

Transparency serves that goal. When regulators, utilities, and communities can see clearly how a project will draw power, use resources, and affect the people around it, they can plan for growth that strengthens the grid rather than strains it. Accountability is not a barrier to responsible operators.

How we operate

For years, MARA has built around a simple idea: the best way to operate on a grid is to be easy to serve. In practice, that means bringing our own power, putting underutilized energy resources to productive use, or curtailing operations when the grid is under stress so power is available for others who need it. These are not new commitments we are making in response to this review. They reflect how we have operated for years and are consistent with the kind of responsible growth Texas should encourage.

  • We design our facilities to minimize water use, with our largest data center using roughly one-third the annual water of a typical household in 2025.
  • We operate as a flexible load that supports grid reliability, voluntarily curtailing ~500 megawatts across Texas during Winter Storm Fern.  
  • We invest in the communities where we operate, contributing $1.7B across five Texas counties.
  • We support policies that ensure large new loads contribute appropriately to the infrastructure needed to serve them.
  • We work to site our facilities responsibly, with careful consideration for surrounding communities and local land use.

We believe operators should strengthen the communities where they build, protect local resources, and help keep power reliable and affordable for the families and businesses around them. That’s why we voluntarily report our water use through the Texas PUCT Energy and Water Survey.

We also operate as a flexible load that supports the grid during periods of stress. During Winter Storm Fern in January 2026, MARA voluntarily curtailed approximately 550 megawatts in ERCOT to help keep power available when it was needed most. That standard does not change because it is being formalized. It is the standard we have always tried to meet.

Looking ahead

We appreciate the Governor's leadership in setting a higher bar for the industry, and we look forward to continuing our positive engagement with his office and with Texas regulators. Our goal is to be a responsible partner in Texas: one that listens, invests in the communities where we operate, and supports growth that works for the state for the long term.

Forward-Looking Statements

This blog post contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this blog post are forward-looking statements. The words "may," "will," "could," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "believe," "continue," "target" and similar expressions or variations or negatives of these words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations about future events as of the date hereof and involve many risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. Subsequent events and developments, including actual results or changes in our assumptions, may cause our views to change. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements except to the extent required by applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Our actual results and outcomes could differ materially from those included in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the factors set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, and any other periodic reports that we may file with the SEC.

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