💰 Austin money trail

Welcome to Tuesday.

🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with a high in the low 90s.

🧩 Become a core piece of our newsroom when you become a member today.

Today's newsletter is 983 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Gas and coal power plants consumed more water than data centers across Texas in 2024, per a recent Sierra Club analysis of federal data.

Why it matters: Data center water use is in the spotlight in drought-stricken Texas. Environmental advocates say transitioning to renewable energy sources wouldn't just reduce carbon emissions, it would save the state billions of gallons of water.

What they did: The Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy organization, analyzed a decade's worth of data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to compile its report, released last month.

By the numbers: It found that in 2024, gas plants consumed 56 billion gallons of water, coal plants consumed 34 billion gallons and nuclear plants consumed 26 billion gallons across Texas.

• Data centers used 8 billion gallons of water in 2024 in direct operations.

Reality check: Data center water use is rising, and the energy generation that powers data centers could indirectly consume a lot more water.

• A recent University of Texas report found Texas data centers used 25 billion gallons of water in 2025 in direct operations and indirect energy generation, or about 0.4% of the state's total water use.
• Data centers could make up 3–9% of Texas' total water use by 2040, per the report.

Caveat: Renewable energy sources like wind and solar use a "negligible" amount of water, per Noah Ver Beek, lead analyst for the project. The EIA doesn't track it.

What they're saying: "Affordable, clean, low-water options exist," Ver Beek said in a statement.

The other side: "Coal plants provide reliable electricity that supports homes, hospitals, manufacturing, and Texas' growing economy while operating under extensive environmental and water management requirements," Krissy Lilljedahl, administrative director for the Texas Mining and Reclamation Association, tells Axios in a statement.

Zoom in: The Fayette Power Plant, owned by the city of Austin and Lower Colorado River Authority, consumed 4.8 billion gallons in 2024 — the second-highest rate of any Texas coal plant that year, per a Sierra Club dashboard.

• The city of Austin approved a 2020 plan to shut down the Fayette plant, but negotiations with LCRA have fallen through.

Read more

Reality TV star Spencer Pratt's bid to be Los Angeles' next mayor has ties to Austin, per an Axios review of campaign finance filings.

Why it matters: Today is primary day in LA, where incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is trying to stay in office after facing criticism over the city's response to last year's devastating wildfires.

The intrigue: Pratt, a registered Republican who lost his home in the fires and who has become a symbol of revolt against Democratic governance, is getting campaign contributions from across the country.

Follow the money: Pratt's campaign got $1,800 — the maximum allowable amount — from Joe Lonsdale, the Austin-based managing partner of venture capital firm 8VC and chairman of the board of the libertarian-minded Cicero Institute.

• In 2024, Lonsdale helped establish America PAC, a super PAC associated with Elon Musk aimed at supporting the Trump campaign. He recently hosted a fundraiser headlined by Vice President Vance for the Republican National Committee.

Plus: The Pratt campaign also paid $20,000 to Austin-based law firm Lex Politica for "legal defense," per campaign finance filings.

• Lex Politica is headed by Chris Gober, who served as a director for America PAC and who is now the Republican nominee for a congressional seat that stretches from Austin to East Texas. (The 10th Congressional District is currently held by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican.)

Lonsdale, Lex Politica and the Pratt campaign did not immediately respond to an Axios request for comment.

✏️ Austin ISD informed some schools that they'll only have a librarian part-time, prompting backlash. (Austin Current)

🚒 A fire at Bar Peached on West Sixth Street is under investigation. (CBS Austin)

🏛️ A committee of state lawmakers heard from school leaders about the issues they're still facing after receiving an increase in funding. (Texas Tribune)

Companies that treat office space as a business strategy rather than an expense could reveal overlooked opportunities for growth.

The proof: One company uncovered millions in savings after consolidating across more than 600 sites.

Download the report.

If you missed the "Love Island USA" hype last summer, this is your chance to redeem yourself. Season 8 premieres today.

Why it matters: Hot people spend over a month in a villa, coupling up with their love interests and competing in the weirdest challenges. What could possibly go wrong?

How it works: The show premieres at 8pm today on Peacock, with new episodes every day this week. Starting next week, the show will air five days a week along with a recap show on Saturdays.

Here are some watch parties in Austin...

• Little Woodrow's is hosting premiere watch parties at its Domain and Southpark Meadows locations at 7pm today.
• Try Poppi's new Love Island punch pop, head to the confessional booth and watch the premiere at 8pm from Victory Lap's West Campus location.
• Enjoy specialty cocktails from Casamigos and grab Rollin Smoke BBQ for the premiere at Dainty Dillo, where Love Island watch parties will continue each week.

Nicole here, your happy hour correspondent.

What's happening: On my latest trek to find the best happy hour in town, I stopped by Nomadé Cocina on South First.

• The restaurant opened in 2023 and focuses on gluten free cuisine from Yucatán, Mexico.

To order: Their happy hour deal is hard to beat.

• 4:30-6pm on Monday through Thursday, you can get two tacos and a margarita for $10.
• The happy hour tacos — fish and barbacoa — are on the smaller side, so order some guacamole and you've got yourself a satisfying, affordable dinner.

Six word review: Tacos, margs, and zero buyer's remorse.

📍 If you go: Find Nomadé at 1506 South First St.

Workplace strategy has always informed company culture, but hybrid models are now an even bigger lever for companies to attract and retain talent.

The story: JLL’s latest guide breaks down how organizations can rethink office strategy to stay competitive.

Explore the insights.

Thanks to Astrid Galván and Bob Gee for editing this newsletter.

🇮🇹 Asher is looking at this guide to Italian mid-century design.

🎧 Nicole is listening to this heart-wrenching podcast from Texas Monthly's Aaron Parlsey.