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The Data Center Boom and What It Means for the Rest of Us

By
Lee Allen Miller
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Texas is being chosen, on a massive scale, as the place to build the artificial intelligence economy. That’s already starting to show up in our bills.

If you drive through certain parts of North Texas, West Texas, or the corridor outside Austin, you’ll start noticing them — enormous warehouse-style buildings going up in the middle of pastureland, surrounded by chain-link fence and substations the size of football fields. These are data centers. Some of them belong to familiar names like Google, Microsoft, and Meta. Others belong to companies most people have never heard of. All of them have one thing in common: they consume staggering amounts of electricity.

In April 2026, ERCOT filed its long-term forecast and projected that peak electricity demand in Texas could reach 367,790 megawatts by 2032 — more than four times today’s all-time record of 85,508 megawatts. ERCOT itself was quick to caution that the number is probably overstated. Even so, the more conservative working estimates would still represent the largest growth in demand the Texas grid has ever seen.

Most of that growth comes from data centers, with cryptocurrency mining and large industrial operations making up the rest. According to ERCOT’s filings, more than 228,000 megawatts of the new requested load is data centers alone. Whether half of that gets built or only a quarter, it’s a tidal wave compared to what the grid was designed to handle.

Why Texas?

Data center developers are picking Texas for a fairly specific set of reasons. Land is available and relatively inexpensive. There’s no state income tax. The deregulated electricity market lets large customers negotiate directly with suppliers, which is faster than dealing with a regulated utility. And Texas has both the natural gas and the rapidly growing renewable resources to actually power what gets built.

Add to all of that the massive build-out of artificial intelligence, which depends on enormous computing facilities running flat-out around the clock, and Texas has become the leading destination in America for this kind of construction. Oncor alone reported anticipating more than 109,000 megawatts of large-load projects in its service territory by 2032. AEP reported more than 42,000 megawatts.

The era of data centers showing up unannounced is ending. Texas now requires them to report what they’re building before they ever flip the switch — and lawmakers have given ERCOT new authority to plan around them.

What This Means for Everyone Else

It’s reasonable to ask: if data centers are using all this new power, are the rest of us going to end up paying for it? The honest answer is complicated, but here are the broad strokes.

Forward electricity prices have moved up. The market is anticipating tighter conditions in the coming years, and that’s already reflected in the rates being offered today for plans starting next year and the year after. A homeowner shopping for a new plan in 2026 is looking at noticeably higher rates than someone who locked in two years ago. Wholesale price increases eventually flow through to retail rates.

The transmission build-out is going to be expensive. To move power from where it gets generated — often in West Texas — to where the new data centers are being built, the state will need billions of dollars of new high-voltage transmission lines. Who pays for those lines, and how, is one of the central debates happening at the Public Utility Commission right now. Some of those costs will eventually show up on every Texan’s delivery charge.

Reliability has gotten more attention. When the grid was being planned for modest year-over-year growth, the reliability conversation was different. Now, with massive new load potentially coming online over the next several years, ERCOT and the legislature have moved to put new rules in place. Senate Bill 6 — passed in 2025 and which we’ll cover in detail later in this series — requires large customers to share information about their projects up front and allows certain large loads to be curtailed during emergencies.

What Can You Actually Do About It?

Three practical things.

  • Lock in rates while you can. If you’re approaching a contract renewal, there’s a reasonable case for choosing a longer fixed term right now. Forward prices are moving the wrong direction, and waiting tends to cost more than acting.
  • Pay attention to your usage patterns. As prices climb, the gap between an average user and an efficient one widens. Small upgrades — better thermostats, weather stripping, LED lighting — pay back faster than they used to.
  • Stay informed about the regulatory conversation. A lot of decisions about how transmission costs get allocated are being made right now at the PUC. The outcomes will affect every bill in Texas for the next decade.

The data center wave isn’t a future event we can prepare for at our leisure. It’s happening now, and the ripple effects are already showing up in the prices we pay. The good news is that an attentive household or small business can still come out fine — but it’s going to take more attention than it used to.

— Lee Miller

Lee Miller publishes Texas Forest Country Living and is co-founder of Amerigy Energy, a Texas-based electricity brokerage.

Angelina College Holds Associate’s Degree Nursing Ceremony

By
Gary Stallard
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Students from Angelina College’s Associate’s Degree Nursing Program pose in front of the AC Activity Center prior to Thursday’s traditional pinning ceremony. A total of 50 new nurses received their awards. (Gary Stallard photo for AC News Service)

Fifty New Nurses Earn Pins, Awards

Angelina College’s School of Health Careers on Thursday held a traditional pinning ceremony recognizing the newest graduates of the Associate’s Degree Nursing program.  

The Class of 2026 group included 50 students receiving their pins from faculty, friends and family members.    

Students earning individual awards included Mark Bagonoc (Highest GPA), Harley Husband (Best Overall Student) and Josalyn Urbina (Best Clinical Student).  

Dr. Winifred Ferguson-Adams, Dean of the School of Health Careers, shared notes from Florence Nightingale written 166 years ago regarding “what nursing is, and what it is not.”

Dr. Winifred Ferguson-Adams, Dean of Angelina College’s School of Health Careers, addresses the crowd during Thursday’s ceremony held inside AC’s Activity Center. A total of 50 new nurses received their awards. (Gary Stallard photo for AC News Service)

“She wrote about having fresh air, clean water, sanitation, but she also talked about the importance of the patient and the importance of the nurse observing, caring for and listening to the patient,” Ferguson-Adams said. “Don’t ever forget to be present for your patient. You may have a million other things to do, but when you’re with that one patient, be present for them and give them the best of your time you can possibly give.”

AC president Dr. Michael Simon also addressed the crowd, speaking of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington, D.C. and how approximately 90 percent of those women served as nurses. 

“I want to emphasize that women were not drafted during the Vietnam War,” Simon said. “Those women volunteered to go into harm’s way to serve their country and their fellow service members.”

Simon also shared how the memorial’s sculptor, Glenna Goodacre, also created the sculpture dedicated to the Rotary International Group to Eradicate Polio currently exhibited on the Angelina College campus. Simon related how Goodacre chronicled when those nurses returned from Vietnam, they found themselves “unheralded, unwanted and unwelcome.”

“I wanted to share her story because as nurses, from time to time you may feel unheralded,” Simon said. “There may be people in your life who question your choice of profession. As you advocate for your patient, you may feel unsupported and even attacked. There will definitely be challenging shifts and difficult patients.

“When you’re experiencing difficulty in your practice, I encourage you to remember those courageous nurses who preceded you in the profession and know that although doing the right thing can be difficult, it is a hallmark of the nursing profession.”

Following are the graduates of the Class of 2026, along with their home towns. (Cities are in Texas unless otherwise specified.)

Jonielyn Asne (Lufkin), Mark Bagonoc (Lufkin), Ricardo Bautista (Huntington), Savannah Bearden (Wells), David Bennett (Nacogdoches), Kenna Boston (Lufkin), Quashunna Burrell (Doucette), Natalie Cervantes (Alto), Lamyia Chatman (Lufkin), Holly Choate (Lufkin), Tabitha Cook (Lovelady), Yessica Damian (Livingston), Kendra Esquivel (Diboll), Amber Evans (Lufkin), Abbigail Evett (Huntington), Chancy Hall (Lufkin), Kennedy Hoppes (Shepherd), Harley Husband (Coldspring), Emmili Jackson (Lufkin), Delontae James (Crockett), Chyenne Koller (Lufkin), Cheyenne Landrum (Lufkin), Kryclei Loving (Lufkin), April Maddux-Stanbery (Lufkin), Breeann McClain (La Porte), Nikolas McNiel (Livingston), Rachel Middleton (Livingston), Hannah Monroy (Rockwall), Esveidy Morales (Nacogdoches), Samuel Mwangi (Lufkin), Heather Myers, Lio Okamoto-Yamamoto (Lufkin), Michael Oliver (Zavalla), Tangela Patton (Lufkin), Hayley Powell (Lufkin), Margarita Ramos (Lufkin), Xavier Randolph (Batson), Angelique Rodriguez (Lufkin), Gendareneshy Rodriguez (Shepherd), Isabel Rodriguez (Lufkin), Kaitlyn Siebold (Katy), SheQuedra Sigler (San Augustine), Karson Smith (Diboll), Neena Smith (Lufkin), Neera Smith (Lufkin), Ashley Suttle (Cleveland), Josalyn Urbina (Lufkin), Andrea Vazquez (Livingston), Avery Watson (Nacogdoches) and Merlene Wilcox (Lufkin). 

Nursing program faculty: Dr. Winifred Ferguson-Adams (Dean, School of Health Careers), Danielle Adams, Kelley Durr, Allison Gray, Vergie Hines, Kathy Jackson, Koshy Jose, Nadia Martindale, Nancy McClurg, Kathy McNeese, Anna McReynolds, Peggy Mortensen, Amber Murphy, Bobbie Williams and Carrie Zavala. 

For further information regarding Angelina College Health Careers, email healthcareers@angelina.edu.   For information regarding this press release, contact Gary Stallard at gstallard@angelina.edu.

Kids Talk About God by Carey Kinsolving and Friends

By
Carey Kinsolving
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Why Did Jewish Leaders Demand That Pontius Pilate Crucify Jesus?
 
“If Jesus healed people and fed thousands with just a few fish, why would anyone want to kill him?” asks Liam, 9. “That’s like trying to get rid of your birthday cake!”

Liam’s question is both funny and insightful. Why would anyone want to crucify someone who went around helping others? In John 19:1-16, we see that Jesus wasn’t crucified because he did something wrong, but because powerful people were afraid of him.

“The Jewish leaders were jealous and didn’t want to lose their power,” says Ella, 11.

The Jewish leaders were the religious teachers of the day. But Jesus kept challenging them. He healed people on the Sabbath, called out their hypocrisy, and taught that love and mercy were more important than their religious traditions.

By the time Jesus stood before Pilate, the Jewish leaders had already decided they wanted him dead. But under Roman rule, they didn’t have the power to execute anyone. So they pressured Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, to do it.

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. He even tried to set him free. But the crowd, stirred up by the leaders, shouted, “Crucify him!”

“Pilate didn’t want to make the crowd mad, but he also knew Jesus hadn’t done anything wrong,” says Mia, 12.

Pilate tried to compromise by having Jesus beaten and mocked. The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on Jesus’ head. They dressed him in a purple robe and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they slapped him in the face. Pilate hoped that showing Jesus beaten and humiliated would satisfy the crowd. But it didn’t.

“They thought he was a troublemaker, but he was actually their Savior,” says Jack, 11.

When Pilate brought Jesus out again, he said, “Behold the Man!” But the leaders only shouted louder: “Crucify him!” They even claimed, “We have no king but Caesar.”

That was a shocking thing for Jewish leaders to say. Their whole faith was built around the idea that God was their true king. But in their hatred of Jesus, they were willing to side with Rome, just to get rid of Jesus.

Sometimes people cling so tightly to their power or pride that they’ll do anything to keep it, even reject the very one God sent to save them.

We can learn a lot from this sad moment in history: Pride and jealousy can make people blind to the truth. Jesus willingly suffered, not because he was weak, but because he was strong in love.

Even though the leaders demanded Jesus’ death, and Pilate gave in to the crowd, God was still in control. Jesus laid down his life as part of God’s perfect plan to save us from our sins.

As you think about the Jewish leaders who yelled “Crucify him,” remember that the early church was entirely Jewish as were Jesus’ apostles. Paul and John Feinburg were my professors at a Christian seminary. Their father, Charles Feinburg, was an orthodox Jew who left Judaism when he trusted Jesus as his Messiah. Every Jew and every Gentile is responsible to God for accepting or rejecting the claims of Jesus.

Think About This: The Jewish leaders wanted to stay in control so badly that they rejected their own Messiah. Jesus let himself be crucified to carry out God’s rescue plan for them and for us.

Memorize This Truth: “But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Ask This Question: Are you letting pride, fear, or the desire to fit in keep you from fully trusting Jesus as your savior?

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Kids Talk About God is designed for families to study the Bible together. Research shows that parents who study the Bible with their children give their character, faith and spiritual life a powerful boost. To receive Kids Talk About God twice a week in a free, email subscription, visit www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/email. 

Texas Interagency Wildfire Academy: Spring runs May 5-14 at new Conroe home

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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A new chapter begins for annual East Texas wildfire training academy

The 27th annual Texas Interagency Wildfire Academy: Spring hosted by Texas A&M Forest Service, is underway, May 5-14, but this year firefighters are gathering at a new venue, the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center in Conroe.

Instructors at the 27th annual Texas Interagency Wildfire Academy: Spring demonstrate how to operate a pump on a fire truck. (Texas A&M Forest Service)

Each year, firefighters travel across the state and nation to attend the academy to continue their education and earn nationally accredited training qualifications. The mission of the academy is to enhance wildland firefighters’ knowledge while promoting safe and cost-effective operations.

More than 300 students are expected to attend from local, state and federal agencies across the nation. Twenty classes emphasizing entry-level and intermediate wildfire suppression training for firefighters and incident managers are available this year.

A new location

“For more than two decades, our East Texas Interagency Wildfire and Incident Management Academy has been proud to call Angelina College home,” said Chelsea Fikes, Texas A&M Forest Service academy coordinator.

“We are incredibly grateful for the longstanding partnership, support and hospitality Angelina College has provided over the years,” Fikes said. “Their facility has been the foundation for training, growth and countless memories for our instructors, students and staff.”

Fikes added that as both organizations continue to grow, it is important to recognize the need to evolve and embrace new opportunities.

“We are proud to continue to uphold a tradition of quality training that provides every participant with an excellent learning experience,” Fikes said. “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center for opening their doors and welcoming our academy as we continue our mission.”

Supporting firefighting training

Training tuition assistance is available to eligible departments through Texas A&M Forest Service under the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System.

Academy cooperators include Texas A&M Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management, Conroe Fire Department, Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, National Park Service, Southern Area-Type 3 Gray Team, Travis County Parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System.

Additional academy information is available on the Texas Interagency Coordination Center website.

Mother’s Day (Coldspring County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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May 9 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Our amazing craft team is at it again. Join them for a great time and make something for your mom. The flier looks awesome, Leslie Thibodeaux. Thank you so much!

1020 N BYRD AVE, SHEPHERD, TX

Aquatic Vegetation Herbicide Selection, Application Webinar Set for May 19

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Students from the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife & Fisheries Management spray lake grass at a private hunting and fishing club in Athens, Texas on Tuesday, Jul 18, 2023. (Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications)

AgriLife Extension program to focus on product selection, use for plant species management in ponds

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present a webinar, “Aquatic Vegetation Herbicides and Application,” on May 19 from 6-7:30 p.m. The event is a component of the agency’s AquaExtension programming.

The cost is $35, and registration is required at tx.ag/AquaticHerbicides. Following registration, an email will be sent with instructions to access the webinar. All registrants will receive a link to the recorded webinar, available for one month, even if they cannot attend live.

One general Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education unit is available for pesticide applicator license holders who attend.

The event’s speaker is Brittany Chesser, AgriLife Extension aquatic vegetation program specialist and lead diagnostic scientist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory, Bryan-College Station.

Given the many herbicide options available on the market, it is often difficult for pond owners to select the correct product for particular plant species, Chesser said.

This webinar will provide participants with the knowledge needed to correctly select and apply the best herbicide for specific plant species and pond use.

Webinar to focus on selection and application

The webinar will cover:

  • The 15 approved aquatic herbicides available on the market.
  • Herbicide-use restrictions and other considerations.
  • The difference between systemic and contact herbicides, as well as when to use each type.
  • Application techniques and timing for nuisance aquatic vegetation control.

“This webinar will help sharpen your aquatic applicator knowledge, saving time, money and labor by ensuring the right herbicide is selected and applied correctly for the situation,” she said.

A 30-minute Q&A session will conclude the webinar.

Webinar package available for 2026

This webinar is supported by Alligare, one of America’s largest herbicide companies, and is part of a 10-month expert series that provides pond owners and managers with up-to-date, scientific information related to maintaining pond health and productivity.

A 2026 Aquatic Webinar Series Bundle is available for $280 for individuals who would like to register for all webinars throughout the year. The bundle also includes recordings of the previous 2026 webinars. Purchase the webinar bundle at tx.ag/WebinarBundle26.

For more information, contact Chesser at brittany.chesser@ag.tamu.edu.

Alive After Five (Nacogdoches County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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May 21 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Join us for an evening of professional networking and community connection at Alive After Five, hosted by Motorhomes of Texas.

Since 2003, Motorhomes of Texas has served as a premier luxury motorhome dealership in Nacogdoches, specializing in high-quality pre-owned coaches and expert service. We are proud to highlight their commitment to integrity, customer service, and long-term relationships within our local business community.

Free to all to attend and celebrate, it provides an excellent opportunity to expand your local network, connect with fellow professionals, and celebrate the success of our local business partners.

Guests can enjoy beverages from The Mad Hatter Distillery, Sage’s Vintage, Miller Lite, and Coors Light. Snacks will be provided by Roma’s Italian Kitchen and Chili’s, with desserts from Stone House Kitchen.

Event Highlights

Live music
Professional photo booth
Door prizes and giveaways
Chamber Member Cash Giveaway — now at $1,000 (must be present to win)

We look forward to an evening of quality conversation, community celebration, and meaningful connections. We’ll see you there!

Motorhomes of Texas

2605 NW STALLINGS NACOGDOCHES TX

Related Events

Cheers with The Chamber (Angelina County)

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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May 19 @ 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Wrap up your day with us at Cheers with the Chamber on Tuesday, May 19, from 5:30 to 7 PM. Hosted by East Texas Food Bank, this after-hours event is all about relaxed networking, great conversations, and connecting with fellow Chamber Investors in a welcoming space.

Come enjoy the evening, make a few new connections, and spend time with the people who help keep our business community strong.

We’ll see you at 105 Lofton St. in Lufkin!

East Texas Food Bank

105 Lofton St., Lufkin

Drug-Free All Star Banquet

By
Diana De Leon Bon
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Pictured from left to right are Kelcie Ponder, Zavalla ISD; Samantha Saulsbury, Pineywoods Community Academy; Charla Raines, Lufkin ISD; Marlee Jones, Huntington ISD; Brooklyn Hernandez, Diboll ISD; and Aubrey Mays, Hudson ISD, pictured with their certificates for most volunteer hours from their high school. Not pictured is Angel Gutierrez-Hernandez, Central ISD.

The Drug-Free All Stars of Angelina County, funded by a grant from TxDOT, are a group of high school seniors that serve as role models for the community by living an alcohol, tobacco, and drug-free life. Recently, students were honored for their hard work at the annual Drug-Free All Star Banquet, and the students with the most volunteer hours at each high school were recognized. Throughout this school year, the All Stars volunteered their time at local events throughout Angelina County and helped spread awareness about drug and alcohol prevention. Thank you to Justin Holland, a Recovery Support Peer Specialist at the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council for talking to the All Stars about maintaining their substance-free lifestyle and continuing the good choices they have made this year. Collectively, this group of motivated students volunteered over 1,750 hours this year and worked hard to promote a healthy, substance-free lifestyle on behalf of The Coalition. If you are a current high school junior and interested in the Drug-Free All Star program, please visit https://www.angelinacoalition.org/youth to download an application. Paper copies can be picked up at The Coalition’s office at 1320 S. John Reddit Drive, Suite C or at any Angelina County high school. The deadline for applications is Sunday, May 31st.

Since 1988, The Coalition has focused on eliminating the use of harmful substances by affecting public policy, laws, attitudes, and behaviors, in order to foster healthy life-long choices for the local community. For more information about Drug-Free All Star program, contact Abby Baker at The Coalition at 936-634-9308.

Blooms But No Fruit?

By
Cary Sims
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It’s one of the most common questions gardeners ask this time of year.

“My vegetable garden looks great. The plants are healthy. They’re blooming everywhere. But I’m not getting any vegetables.”

Usually, people immediately assume something is wrong. They blame disease, drought stress, poor seed, bad transplants, or fertilizer problems. Some decide they simply need to fertilize more.

But in many cases, the real issue is much simpler.

Poor pollination.

Before we get into the crops that require pollination, let’s clarify something important. Not every garden plant depends on pollination for the part we eat.

Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and cabbage do not require pollination for harvest. Neither do underground crops such as potatoes, onions, carrots, radishes, or turnips. In those cases, the leaf, stem, bulb, or root is what we eat—not the fruit produced after pollination.

But once we start talking about tomatoes, peppers, okra, corn, beans, cucumbers, watermelons, and cantaloupes, pollination becomes critically important.

And different vegetables are pollinated in very different ways.

Tomatoes are mostly self-pollinated, but they still need help. The pollen must be shaken loose inside the flower, which is why vibration matters. Bumblebees are excellent tomato pollinators because they “buzz pollinate” by vibrating the flower. Wind movement can help too. Surprisingly, honeybees are not especially effective on tomatoes because the pollen is held tightly inside the bloom.

Peppers are similar to tomatoes. Bumblebees and other native bees are quite helpful as their physical buzzing helps. Honeybees can help somewhat, but larger native bees and bumblebees are much more effective at shaking pollen loose inside the flower.

Okra depends much more heavily on insects. Its flowers resemble hibiscus blooms and attract honeybees, bumblebees, and many native bees. Without insect activity, production drops quickly.

Sweet corn is completely different. Corn relies almost entirely on wind pollination. Pollen falls from the tassels at the top of the plant down onto the silks developing on the ears. If pollination is poor, you’ll see ears with missing kernels or poorly filled-out tips.

Beans, including snap beans and lima beans, are mostly self-pollinated. In many cases, pollination happens before the flowers even open. However, bee activity can still improve production.

Then there are cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupes, squash, and pumpkins. These crops are highly dependent on bees and other pollinating insects. Honeybees, bumblebees, squash bees, and many native pollinators play a major role in getting fruit to develop properly.

Poor pollination in these crops often leads to misshapen fruit, small fruit that aborts early, or blooms that simply fall off without producing anything.

Unfortunately, many gardeners unknowingly reduce pollinator activity around their own gardens.

Spraying insecticides during the daytime when bees are active can reduce pollination dramatically. Even organic products can harm pollinators if applied improperly. An organic insecticide is still an insecticide. A better approach is to spray only when absolutely necessary and apply products late in the evening when bees are less active.

Plant diversity also matters. Gardens surrounded by flowering plants tend to attract and hold more pollinators than gardens sitting alone in closely mowed turfgrass.

And sometimes, the solution is simply patience.

Extremely hot weather, excessive rainfall, cloudy conditions, or unusually cool nights can temporarily reduce pollinator activity and fruit set even when plants appear perfectly healthy.

The next time your garden is full of blooms but short on vegetables, don’t immediately assume the plants are failing.

Sometimes the problem isn’t the plant at all. It’s that the pollinators never had a chance to do their job.

Healthy gardens depend on healthy pollinator activity. And sometimes the best thing a gardener can do is simply avoid getting in their way.

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