New Era Energy & Digital (NASDAQ:NUAI) said it supports Texas Governor Greg Abbott's directive to strengthen oversight of data center development in the state, backing calls for greater transparency around power and water use, infrastructure costs and community impacts.
The directive reinforces the principle that large-scale development should bring additional energy solutions to Texas rather than shift incremental costs and infrastructure burdens onto residents, the company said.
"New Era welcomes clearer and higher standards for the industry and is fully committed to working with the Governor, regulators, utilities, ERCOT and the local community to ensure the next generation of digital infrastructure is built the right way," said Charlie Nelson, CEO of New Era.
"Texans must come first. For us, responsible development means paying our own way, protecting the grid and local water resources, and delivering lasting benefits for our neighbors; creating jobs, a strong tax base, and improving local communities."
The company's Texas Critical Data Centers project relies on dedicated energy infrastructure, including behind-the-meter generation, to reduce dependence on constrained public-grid capacity while supporting hyperscale customers, New Era said.
The project's design prioritizes closed-loop liquid cooling and reclaimed water, and the company said it is evaluating multiple independent water and wastewater solutions to keep produced water in productive use.
New Era said the project is expected to create job, training and educational opportunities through construction and operations, and to contribute to the local rate and tax base. The company said it also intends to support local library programs in Odessa and an after-school childcare program serving working families.
Texas Critical Data Centers is a 492-acre site in the Permian Basin, with anticipated capacity scaling to 1.4 GW over time, according to the company.
New Era's strategy combines large-acreage sites with flexible power solutions, including behind-the-meter power, using a modular, phased deployment model intended to minimize community impact and accelerate time-to-power for hyperscale, enterprise and edge operators.