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Issue 110 projects

Texas paused data center permits. Here's what's still moving.

Permit-first project leads for Gulf Coast suppliers, fabricators and equipment reps.

Project hubs: Texas · Louisiana · TCEQ · FERC

1: Texas City, TCEQ 183144. 2: Port Arthur, TCEQ 46396. 3: Brownsville, FERC + USACE. 4: Quintana Island, FERC CP03-75. 5: Robstown, TDLR TABS2027000611. 6: Donaldsonville, LDEQ air permit. 7: Harlingen, Cameron County. 8: Rayville, LDEQ Part 70 / PSD. 9: Claude, TCEQ 182880. 9: Abilene, TCEQ 182126. 10: Hill County, ERCOT 33INR0005/6Gulf of Mexico1Texas City2Port Arthur3Brownsville4Quintana Island5Robstown6Donaldsonville7Harlingen8Rayville9Claude9Abilene10Hill County
Where the ten projects are. Numbers match the items below.

A news story tells you a project exists. A permit filing is the public record that the owner is moving it forward, often long before it makes the news. For each project below you get the owner, who is designing or building it when a source names them, what you could sell into it, a date to watch, and one thing to do this week.

The pause. On September 21, Governor Abbott directed TCEQ to "pause the issuance of all permits related to data center projects until ERCOT completes its review," and said TCEQ will issue no permits sought by data center projects until the ERCOT and Texas Water Development Board audits are complete. TCEQ owes the Governor an update on its compliance by October 19. (Governor's letter) Two Crusoe data center power plant applications are pending at TCEQ while the directive is in place (item 9). The directive is about data center permits. The refinery, LNG, midstream and steel filings in this issue are not data center projects, and two data center projects here are moving through county and TDLR filings (items 5 and 7).

How to read this. "Named" means a source names them, and we link it. "Likely" is our read on who usually does this kind of work. It is not a confirmed award. Anything marked trade press or secondary comes from news coverage or a third-party site, not from the agency or company record. We use those only where we could not open the original, and we say so next to the claim.

The permit clock

  1. 1MarkWest frac trainTCEQ · Air permit 183144

    • Filed Feb 25

  2. 2TotalEnergies refineryTCEQ · Draft permit 46396

    • Filed Dec 2, 2025
    • Notice published (per notice reprint) (Passed)
    • Comments close (per notice reprint) (Passed)

  3. 3Rio Grande LNG Train 6FERC · Docket CP26-532-000, filed May 2026

    • Corps permit announced by NextDecade (Passed)

  4. 4Freeport LNG regas removalFERC · Docket CP03-75-000

    • Schedule notice (Passed)
    • EA issued (Passed)
    • Federal authorization deadline (coming up)

  5. 5Hut 8 Beacon PointTDLR · TABS2027000611, $399M

    • TDLR registration (Passed)
    • Listed start (Passed)

  6. 6Hyundai-POSCO steel millLDEQ · Air permit application, $5.8B

    • Public hearing (per trade press) (Passed)
    • Comments closed (per trade press) (Passed)

  7. 7Fluidstack AI campusCounty · Cameron County worksite permit

    • Worksite permit (Passed)
    • Construction start announced (Passed)

  8. 8Entergy Richland 3 & 4LDEQ · Proposed Part 70 and PSD permits

    • Public hearing (per secondary source) (Passed)
    • Comments due (per secondary source) (Passed)

  9. 9Crusoe power blocksTCEQ · Permits 182880 and 182126

    • Filed Nov 2025 and Jan 2026
    • Named Google campus developer (Passed)

  10. 10Bullock and Liberty gasERCOT · Queue 33INR0005 and 33INR0006

    • Screening done Jul 29

Dates come from agency and company records unless marked “per trade press”, “per notice reprint” or “per secondary source”. A tilde means the date is approximate. Texas paused data center permits on Sep 21, 2026, and TCEQ owes the Governor an update by Oct 19, 2026.

  1. TCEQ · Air permit 183144

    1. MarkWest frac train

    MarkWest Energy: new fractionation train, Texas City (Galveston County)

    Stage
    TCEQ air permit 183144. Application submitted Feb 25, 2026. TCEQ ruled it administratively complete, issued its notice of receipt Mar 11, 2026, and is doing the technical review. The permit would authorize installation of a fractionation train and incorporate the standard permit for fractionation and storage at the Texas City NGL Fractionation and Storage site, 3901 Loop 197 South. No dollar value or capacity is given. As of Oct 2 we found no draft permit notice. When TCEQ issues one, it sets the final comment deadline.
    Owner
    MarkWest Energy West Texas Gas Company, L.L.C.
    Designing or building
    Likely Midstream EPCs that build Gulf Coast fractionators, such as Kiewit, Burns & McDonnell or Zachry. The filing names no builder.
    What you could sell
    Columns, exchangers, pressure vessels, storage tanks, pipe spools, pipe rack steel and skids. That is the kind of work Houston and Galveston shops build.
    Date to watch
    Mar 11, 2026 notice of receipt. Technical review is under way. A draft permit notice would set the next public deadline. The filing does not name the engineer. (Passed)
    This week
    Call MarkWest, reference permit 183144, and ask which firm is doing the engineering.
    Source
    TCEQ notice of receipt, permit 183144 · TCEQ pending air applications

  2. TCEQ · Draft permit 46396

    2. TotalEnergies refinery

    TotalEnergies: refinery modification, Port Arthur (Jefferson County)

    Stage
    Draft permit. TCEQ air permits 46396 and PSDTX1073M3. Application submitted Dec 2, 2025. TCEQ finished its technical review, prepared a draft permit and issued its preliminary decision notice Aug 28, 2026. Comments run 30 days from newspaper publication. A notice reprint site (secondary) shows publication in the Port Arthur News on Sept 19, which would put the close around Oct 19. We could not confirm that date from a TCEQ record. The notice lists sulfuric acid mist as the only contaminant emitted in a significant amount. No dollar value or scope detail.
    Owner
    TotalEnergies Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc. (Port Arthur Refinery).
    Designing or building
    Likely Port Arthur capital and turnaround contractors such as Turner Industries or Zachry. The notice names no builder.
    What you could sell
    Alloy pipe spools, vessels and exchangers for sulfur service, emissions control equipment, insulation and scaffolding.
    Date to watch
    comments close around Oct 19 (per notice reprint of Sept 19 publication). If no contested case hearing is requested, TCEQ's executive director can issue final approval.
    This week
    Call refinery purchasing, cite permit 46396, and ask whether this work goes out as a turnaround package or a capital project, and who holds it.
    Source
    TCEQ draft permit notice, Aug 28 · TCEQ notice of receipt · Port Arthur News publication via NoticeRegistry (secondary, notice reprint site)

  3. FERC · Docket CP26-532-000, filed May 2026

    3. Rio Grande LNG Train 6

    NextDecade: Rio Grande LNG Train 6, Brownsville (Cameron County)

    Stage
    FERC application filed May 26, 2026 (docket CP26-532-000). FERC's final environmental impact statement is scheduled for June 25, 2027. NextDecade says Train 6 received its Army Corps permit on Sep 28, 2026. NextDecade is targeting a final investment decision in the second half of 2027 and says Trains 6 to 8 could add about 18 million tonnes a year. No dollar value for Train 6.
    Owner
    NextDecade (Rio Grande LNG Train 6, LLC).
    Designing or building
    Named Bechtel has been doing front-end engineering for Train 6, and in July NextDecade said it is progressing the Train 6 EPC with Bechtel. Bechtel is the EPC on Trains 1 to 5. No signed Train 6 EPC contract has been announced.
    What you could sell
    Pipe, structural steel, module work, marine and berth steel, piling. Trains 4 and 5, also Bechtel jobs, are under construction now.
    Date to watch
    FERC application filed May 26, 2026. Final EIS is scheduled for June 25, 2027. Trains 4 and 5 are under construction with Bechtel as EPC. (Passed)
    This week
    Register with Bechtel's supplier program and ask the Rio Grande LNG procurement team whether any Train 4 and 5 packages are still open.
    Source
    FERC notice of application, CP26-532 · NextDecade Q1 2026 update · NextDecade Q2 2026 update · FERC schedule notice, docket CP26-532 · NextDecade announcement, Sep 28 (Army Corps permit for Train 6, announced by NextDecade)

  1. FERC · Docket CP03-75-000

    4. Freeport LNG regas removal

    Freeport LNG: removal of old regas facilities, Quintana Island (Brazoria County)

    Stage
    FERC docket CP03-75-000. Schedule notice published Sept 10, 2026. FERC staff issued the environmental assessment Sept 18, and Dec 17, 2026 is the 90-day deadline for other federal agencies' authorization decisions. The work removes the regas facilities, underground piping, equipment foundations and paving, and modifies or relocates what liquefaction still needs. Freeport LNG estimates about 22 months including design, with 12 months of removal and modification. No dollar value.
    Owner
    Freeport LNG Development, L.P.
    Designing or building
    Likely Industrial demolition contractors and the terminal's existing maintenance contractors. The filings name no contractor.
    What you could sell
    Demolition, scrap purchase, civil, tie-in piping and small mechanical work at a running LNG terminal.
    Date to watch
    Dec 17, 2026 federal authorization deadline (90 days after the Sept 18 EA). The filings give no bid schedule.
    This week
    Pull the environmental assessment from FERC eLibrary (docket CP03-75), then ask Freeport LNG's contracts group how and when the removal work will be bid.
    Source
    Federal Register notice · FERC eLibrary, docket CP03-75

  2. TDLR · TABS2027000611, $399M

    5. Hut 8 Beacon Point

    Hut 8 Beacon Point: $399M data center building, Robstown (Nueces County)

    Stage
    TDLR registration TABS2027000611, registered Sept 9, 2026. Estimated cost $398,985,153 and 657,130 sq ft. The scope includes a guardhouse, a fire water tank and pump, and exterior mechanical and electrical support structures. Listed start Sept 28, 2026, completion Nov 5, 2027. Hut 8 says the campus has key interconnection and site approvals secured for 1,000 MW.
    Owner
    Beacon Point DC LLC, also listed as Lon Hill Infrastructure LLC. Hut 8 presents Beacon Point as its campus. The TDLR filing itself doesn't name Hut 8.
    Designing or building
    Named Jacobs Project Management Co. is the design firm on the filing. The general contractor isn't named yet.
    What you could sell
    Fire water tank and pump skid, structural steel for the mechanical and electrical yards, electrical enclosures, pipe supports.
    Date to watch
    TDLR registration Sept 9, 2026; listed start Sept 28, 2026. A TDLR start date is the owner's estimate, not proof that work has begun. (Passed)
    This week
    Call Jacobs, ask who the general contractor is and who handles the fire water and yard structure packages.
    Source
    TDLR TABS record · Hut 8 Beacon Point

  3. LDEQ · Air permit application, $5.8B

    6. Hyundai-POSCO steel mill

    Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel: $5.8B steel mill, Donaldsonville (Ascension Parish, LA)

    Stage
    LDEQ air permit application (permit 0180-00243-V0). Local news reports (trade press) that the only public hearing was Sept 1, 2026 and comments closed Sept 15, and that the company held a ceremonial groundbreaking Sept 4 and says vertical construction waits on the air permit, with site preparation under way. Hyundai Steel announced the $5.8 billion mill in March 2025 and targets commercial production in 2029.
    Owner
    Hyundai-POSCO Louisiana Steel LLC (Hyundai Steel, POSCO, Hyundai Motor and Kia).
    Designing or building
    Named Equipment suppliers: Danieli (electric arc furnaces, slab casters, reheating furnaces), the Tenova and Danieli Energiron consortium (direct reduction plant), and SMS group (all rolling mills). No general EPC has been named.
    What you could sell
    Structural steel, conveyors and material handling, process piping, tanks, and local fabrication and erection support for the Danieli and SMS scopes.
    Date to watch
    LDEQ air permit decision after the Sept 15 comment close (trade press). The company has said vertical construction waits on that permit (trade press).
    This week
    Contact Danieli and SMS group's US offices about local fabrication and erection for Donaldsonville.
    Source
    Hyundai Steel, Mar 24, 2025 · Louisiana Economic Development · LDEQ permit 0180-00243-V0%2FHPLS%20Steel%20Mill&Subject=PUBLIC%20HEARING%20AND%20REQUEST%20FOR%20PUBLIC%20COMMENT%20ON%20A%20PROPOSED%20INITIAL%20PART%2070%20AIR%20OPERATING%20PERMIT%2C%20INITIAL%20PREVENTION%20OF%20SIGNIFICANT%20DETERIORATION%20(PSD)%20PERMIT%2C%20AND%20THE%20ASSOCIATED%20ENVIRONMENTAL%20ASSESSMENT%20STATEMENT%20(EAS)&AI=248885&Activity=PER20250001,PER20250002&PermitNumber=0180-00243-V0,PSD-LA-872&Media=Air%20Quality) · Louisiana Illuminator, Sept 2 (trade press) · WAFB, Sept 4 (trade press) · Danieli · SMS group

  4. County · Cameron County worksite permit

    7. Fluidstack AI campus

    Fluidstack: AI campus near Harlingen (Cameron County)

    Stage
    Cameron County worksite permit, announced Sept 10, 2026. It covers clearing, grading, utilities, roads, parking and stormwater ponds. Building construction needs more permits. Fluidstack says the first phase is $4 billion and up to 1.5 GW, and it announced the start of construction Sept 21.
    Owner
    Fluidstack.
    Designing or building
    Named A site sign shown in a DataCenterNews LinkedIn post (*trade press*) names Alston Construction and RMCI. Their roles aren't confirmed, and neither the county nor Fluidstack names a contractor.
    What you could sell
    Civil and utility materials for the permitted site work (pipe, culverts, precast, stormwater). Electrical and mechanical work would follow the building permits.
    Date to watch
    Cameron County worksite permit announced Sept 10, 2026. Building construction needs further permits. (Passed)
    This week
    Call Alston Construction, ask whether it is on the Fluidstack site, and who handles the underground and utility packages.
    Source
    Cameron County notice · Fluidstack announcement · DataCenterNews on LinkedIn (trade press, site sign only)

  5. LDEQ · Proposed Part 70 and PSD permits

    8. Entergy Richland 3 & 4

    Entergy Louisiana: 1,500 MW of proposed gas generation, Rayville (Richland Parish, LA)

    Stage
    LDEQ proposed initial Part 70, PSD and acid rain permits for the Richland Parish 3 & 4 Power Station, per the LDEQ notice as quoted by the Alliance for Affordable Energy (secondary, advocacy group). Hearing Oct 1, 2026, and comments are due Oct 5 at 4:30 pm. Two 750 MW combined cycle units at 120 LA-852. The same source ties the plant to Meta's Hyperion data center and says Entergy has asked the Louisiana PSC (docket U-37882) to approve seven more gas plants for it, with a vote expected in December.
    Owner
    Entergy Louisiana.
    Designing or building
    Likely Kiewit, which Pipeline & Gas Journal reports is the EPC on Entergy's first two units for the same data center at Franklin Farms (*trade press*). No builder is named for units 3 and 4.
    What you could sell
    HRSG components, pipe spools, gas tie-ins, structural steel, switchgear buildings.
    Date to watch
    LDEQ comments due Oct 5, 2026; PSC vote expected in December (secondary). (Passed)
    This week
    Ask Kiewit's Franklin Farms procurement team whether units 3 and 4 would use the same supply chain.
    Source
    Alliance for Affordable Energy, quoting the LDEQ notice (secondary, advocacy group) · Pipeline & Gas Journal, Sept 21 (trade press)

  6. TCEQ · Permits 182880 and 182126

    9. Crusoe power blocks

    Crusoe: two data center power plant air permits pending at TCEQ during the pause (Claude and Abilene, TX)

    Stage
    Both applications are pending at TCEQ, and the Sept 21 directive tells TCEQ to pause permits related to data center projects. TCEQ hasn't published which applications it is holding.
    • Goodnight Data Center, 10001 Lima Road, Claude (Armstrong County). Permits 182880, PSDTX1698 and GHGPSDTX268, received Jan 30, 2026. The application lists 20 gas turbines (ProEnergy LM6000 and Aero DT46 units, up to 46.6 MW each) for on-site power, plus 170 Caterpillar 3516 diesel generators and 10 black-start units across six buildings. On Sept 28, Crusoe announced it is the developer of Google's campus in Armstrong County, under construction since June 2025.
    • Longhorn Data Center Buildings 9 and 10, 615 FM 2404, Abilene (Taylor County). Permits 182126, PSDTX1688 and GHGPSDTX263, received Nov 7, 2025 for expedited review. TCEQ issued its preliminary decision and draft permit notice Aug 5, 2026. It adds a power block (the Duroc Power Plant) with 27 GE LM2500 and 12 Aero DT35 gas turbines, black-start and backup generators, 27 diesel belly tanks and 66 lube oil tanks.
    Owner
    Crusoe Energy Systems LLC. The Longhorn draft permit notice names Crusoe Technologies LLC.
    Designing or building
    Likely Likely DPR Construction. CNR Magazine reports DPR is the GC on the current phase of Crusoe's Abilene campus (*trade press*). That is not confirmed for these two power plant filings, which name no builder.
    What you could sell
    Gas piping and metering skids, lube oil and diesel tanks, turbine enclosures, pipe racks. These sites are inland, so Gulf Coast shops would be shipping to them.
    Date to watch
    TCEQ update to the Governor due Oct 19, 2026. Crusoe says the Armstrong County campus has been under construction since June 2025. (Passed)
    This week
    Ask ProEnergy about balance-of-plant fabrication for the Goodnight turbines, and ask Crusoe procurement who handles the Abilene power block packages.
    Source
    TCEQ application, Goodnight · TCEQ application, Longhorn (both large files) · Crusoe, Sept 28 · TCEQ draft permit notice, Longhorn · CNR Magazine, Aug 13 (trade press)

  7. ERCOT · Queue 33INR0005 and 33INR0006

    10. Bullock and Liberty gas

    Bullock and Liberty: 2,800 MW of gas generation filed by data center LLCs in ERCOT's queue (Hill County)

    Stage
    ERCOT's generation interconnection report lists Bullock Gas (33INR0005, filed by Bullock Data Center, LLC) and Liberty Thermal Energy Center (33INR0006, filed by Liberty Data Center I, LLC). Each is a 1,400 MW gas combined cycle plant in Hill County. Screening studies finished July 29, 2026, full interconnection studies have started, and there's no interconnection agreement yet. Projected commercial operation is July 2032. No air permit is listed yet.
    Owner
    The two LLCs above. The developer behind them isn't identified.
    Designing or building
    Likely Large combined cycle EPCs such as Kiewit, Bechtel or Zachry. No builder is named yet.
    What you could sell
    It's early. Down the road: HRSG components, pipe, gas laterals and structural steel.
    Date to watch
    ERCOT screening finished July 29, 2026. No air permit is listed yet. If one is filed and tied to a data center, watch how TCEQ applies the Sept 21 directive. (Passed)
    This week
    Look up both LLCs in the Texas Secretary of State and Comptroller records to find the developer, then contact them before an EPC is picked.
    Source
    ERCOT GIS report, September 2026

What these filings are. A TDLR registration is an accessibility filing. It doesn't authorize construction, and its costs and dates can change. A draft permit isn't a final permit, and a pending application can be changed or withdrawn. An ERCOT queue entry is a request to connect, not a commitment to build. Dollar values come from the filing or the company, and we don't estimate them. "Likely" contractors are our judgment, not confirmed awards. Items marked trade press or secondary rest on news coverage or third-party sites, not agency records.

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