Wichita Falls Data Center Still Eyes 2027 Start
Skybox Datacenters says its Wichita Falls project still expects to begin in 2027 despite a pledged statewide moratorium on new approvals.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Data Centers
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Skybox Datacenters, a Dallas-based company, said its Wichita Falls data center project still expects to start in 2027. The statement follows Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa's pledge of an immediate statewide moratorium on new data center approvals and construction.
Why it matters
The project's timeline depends on the state's regulatory direction, and Hinojosa said the pause would last until the Legislature passes laws to protect Texans. The city sold 225 acres of business park land to Skybox on the company's pledge to bring jobs and property tax benefits, so the outcome affects that local investment.
The city sold 225 acres of business park land to Skybox for $14.6 million in October 2025, with six buildings planned subject to change. Whether ERCOT permitting or new state rules will allow the 2027 start remains unresolved.
The players
Skybox Datacenters
A Dallas-based company developing a data center project on 225 acres of business park land in Wichita Falls.
Gina Hinojosa
A Democrat who won the Texas governorship and takes office January 19, 2027, pledging a statewide moratorium on new data center approvals.
Greg Abbott
The Texas governor who issued orders in August placing data centers effectively in a moratorium.
Texas Electric Reliability Council (ERCOT)
The grid operator whose permitting process is currently reviewing the Skybox Wichita Falls project.
The details
The city of Wichita Falls sold the land to Skybox on the company's pledge to bring jobs and property tax benefits, and the project is undergoing permitting by the Texas Electric Reliability Council (ERCOT). Governor Greg Abbott had already issued orders in August placing data centers effectively in a moratorium.
Timeline
October 2025: City of Wichita Falls sold 225 acres of business park land to Skybox.
August 2026: Governor Greg Abbott issued orders placing data centers effectively in a moratorium.
November 3, 2026: Texas election held; Hinojosa won the governorship.
January 19, 2027: Hinojosa becomes governor.
2027: Skybox's Wichita Falls project is expected to kick off.
Data Center Landscape
Texas's August orders from Governor Greg Abbott effectively placed data centers in a moratorium, and Hinojosa's pledge would extend that pause into a formal ban on new approvals until the Legislature acts. The Skybox project now sits between that state-level pause and the ERCOT permitting process.
Residents in Wichita Falls may see jobs and property tax changes tied to the Skybox project depending on whether it proceeds in 2027. If legislation becomes more restrictive, some delays could result for the planned six buildings.
The takeaway
The Wichita Falls project's 2027 start depends on how Texas resolves its moratorium debate, so the timeline is best treated as provisional. Readers tracking local development should watch both ERCOT permitting and the next legislative session.
What happens next
ERCOT will not issue permits until after December, and Hinojosa takes office January 19, 2027, so the moratorium's scope will become clearer then.
Further reading
For the broader regulatory picture, see Data Centers coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wichita Falls Times Record News.
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