Skybox Rep Says Wichita Falls Project Still on Track After Election

Skybox Rep Says Wichita Falls Project Still on Track After Election

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A data center development in Texas remains on track for a 2027 launch despite an impending gubernatorial shift and a proposed statewide construction freeze, timesrecordnews.com reported.

Dallas-based Skybox Datacenters expects construction on the Wichita Falls project to begin next year, though the exact timeline depends on shifting regulatory hurdles, according to company chief development officer Haynes Strader. Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa pledged an immediate statewide moratorium on new data center approvals and construction after taking office January 19, 2027, following a Democratic takeover of the Texas House of Representatives while the state senate remains under Republican control.

“I still anticipate this is a project that’ll kick off in 2027, it’s just going to depend on when,” Strader said, according to yahoo.com. Strader noted that his company plans to work closely with the incoming administration to secure the project’s success.

Skybox Rep Says Wichita Falls Project Still on Track After Election
Photo: yahoo.com

Hinojosa stated after the November 3 election that she wants a ban on new facilities maintained until the Legislature can pass laws protecting residents. Strader acknowledged that upcoming legislative sessions will likely target the data center industry, but he expressed confidence in the company’s position.

“It sounds like there will probably be some legislation in this session related to our space, but we think the site continues to be well positioned,” Strader said, as reported by timesrecordnews.com. “We’re zoned properly. Over all we have community support. We’re not using a bunch of water and we’re not a strain on the (electrical) grid.”

The city of Wichita Falls originally sold 225 acres of land in its business park to Skybox in October 2025 for $14.6 million. The agreement hinged on the company’s commitment to generate local jobs and provide property tax benefits for city residents. Current plans outline six buildings at the site, though that figure remains subject to change.

Strader pointed out that data centers are already effectively operating under a moratorium due to executive orders issued in August by outgoing Governor Greg Abbott. He cautioned that tighter legislative restrictions or permitting roadblocks could introduce further delays.

The project is currently undergoing the permitting process through the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which will not issue final permits until after December. Yahoo.com reported that Strader sat in the audience during a Wichita Falls City Council meeting on October 6, 2026, as the development continued to meet local and state milestones.

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