Country music icon Willie Nelson has publicly voiced his opposition to the construction of large AI data centers near his small Texas hometown of Abbott, population 352. Nelson, 93, who still owns property in the area, urged Texans to fight against what he described as "water-thieving" and "light polluting" facilities "invading" rural lands.
Plans revealed recently indicate the construction of nearly 250 data centers across Texas, with 56 proposed for Nelson's Central Texas region. These facilities, which house the hardware powering artificial intelligence technologies like ChatGPT, have drawn criticism statewide for their significant energy and water consumption, as well as potential pollution.
"The last thing we need is a loud, water thieving, light polluting, data center anywhere near our town (or any others for that matter)," Nelson stated on social media. He emphasized the value of rural America's strength deriving from "generations of people, open spaces, local businesses, and a connection to the land," arguing that data centers detract from these qualities and threaten agricultural land and family farmers' livelihoods.
Nelson's stance aligns with increasing local resistance to AI infrastructure development in Texas. Governor Greg Abbott, who previously promoted the state as an "epicenter of AI development," has begun prioritizing industry regulation. Proposals include repealing data center sales tax exemptions and other incentives, and potentially banning development in rural neighborhoods. This shift contrasts with a previous statement where Abbott highlighted Google's $40 billion investment in Texas AI infrastructure.
Concerns over data centers extend beyond water and energy usage to include noise pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Hill County, where Abbott is located, previously passed a data center moratorium that was later overturned following a $100 million lawsuit from a developer. The county ultimately settled, agreeing to pay legal fees and adopt a revised industrial development review policy.
Other Texas municipalities, such as San Marcos, have implemented outright bans on data center construction using zoning laws. Nelson, a long-time activist through Farm Aid, which he co-founded, has a history of advocating for farmers and rural communities, raising millions for agricultural support and disaster relief.
Nelson's message on social media garnered significant support from fans and fellow artists. His activism on behalf of farmers began decades ago, with an open letter to young farmers criticizing the "corporate takeover of all food production" and vowing to support independent farmers and ranchers. He left his hometown of Abbott after 18 years to pursue a career in music, becoming a Grammy-winning artist with a career spanning over six decades.