Texas Tests New Rules for AI Campuses Behind Existing Power Plants

Texas regulators are deciding whether AI data centers built behind existing wind farms must shut down completely during grid emergencies so the wind farm's power can be returned to the electric grid. The question arises because a new framework allows large electrical loads to colocate with existing generators using shared interconnection points, which speeds up development timelines but creates uncertainty about emergency reliability requirements. One company argues that if one data center at a site already must shut down during emergencies, a second one should not have to do the same, while regulators contend that all loads sharing a generator's interconnection point must remain capable of full shutdown to preserve grid access. The state's decision will set a precedent for how future AI campuses can be developed in Texas.