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Map Shows Data Centers in Texas As Willie Nelson Speaks Out
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Country legend Willie Nelson has joined the growing backlash against data center development in Texas , warning that the facilities threaten the rural land and resources that communities such as his hometown of Abbott depend on.
The Data Center Map tracker lists 510 data centers across the state, including approximately 200 in the Dallas market alone.
In an open letter posted to social media , the singer and activist wrote that he grew up in Abbott and still has "a home there with farmed land where I can still see stars at night." He said the community, "like many others," now needs to "fight" data centers "invading our land."
Nelson, 93, called the projects "loud, water thieving, light polluting" facilities and said they should not be built near Abbott "or any others for that matter."
"The strength of rural America has never come from big industrial footprints," Nelson wrote. "All of America deserves thoughtful stewardship that doesn’t steal farmland" or small family farmers’ livelihoods, he added, closing with a warning: "Whoever controls food and water, controls the masses."
Nelson’s intervention lands as Texas faces a rapid buildout of data centers, many tied to artificial intelligence . The Texas Tribune reported in June that at least 248 data center projects were planned statewide, while a University of Texas at Austin and Texas Politics Project poll found 56 percent of Texans opposed building data centers in their own communities.
Nelson’s letter adds a familiar voice to a debate already unfolding across Texas over how data center growth could affect water, land, noise and quality of life in rural communities.
"Willie Nelson is a tried-and-true Texan who is echoing the same concerns as his fellow Texans in just about every corner of the state," Adrian Shelley, Texas director of consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen, said in a statement sent to Newsweek.
"State leaders extended an open invitation to data centers to come to Texas, with very few restraints, creating a threat to water, electricity rates, land, and more. Whether it’s a world-famous musician, a cattle rancher or an office worker in a large city like San Antonio, Texans know that, if something isn’t done soon, data centers stand to upend their way of life."
Among the most common concerns raised by residents is water.
In Henderson County, residents opposed a proposed Diode Ventures data center near Cedar Creek Reservoir over concerns about water use. The Texas Tribune reported that the project was expected, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram , to consume 5 million gallons of lake water per day by its fifth year, while nearby residents worried about added withdrawals from Cedar Creek Lake during a dry year.
"After completing our initial evaluation and consulting with the community, as well as state and local officials, we have determined not to advance the site beyond preliminary planning and have concluded our work on the site," Diode Ventures told the Texas Tribune . "Diode remains committed to responsible development, ensuring careful assessment of each site and moving forward with only those that align with infrastructure availability, community priorities and long-term project viability."
Those complaints echo broader anxieties about data centers’ water demands in rural Texas. The Associated Press (AP) reported that West Texas cattle rancher and Republican county commissioner Giles Dalby said the issue was "on everybody’s mind," and warned that data centers could "get in line ahead of ranchers" when water shortages or rationing worsen. Separately, Texas Scorecard has reported that uncertain data-center water consumption is feeding drought and aquifer concerns in the state.
Nelson’s language also mirrors complaints that data centers are changing the character of communities.
AP reported that critics worry about losing open space, farmland and forest, while also seeing rents rise, roads clog and rural areas become more industrialized.
Noise is another recurring complaint. KVUE reported that residents near a Granbury crypto mine complained about noise and lights from the facility, with one resident saying neighbors had testified at Texas Senate committee meetings and "begged for help."
In Brazoria County, residents near a Giga Energy computing site have complained about constant noise and vibration. Chron reported that residents around the Sloping Acres neighborhood described a persistent industrial hum, with several comparing it to a giant "washing machine" that never turns off. Houston Public Media separately reported that a resident told county commissioners that the disturbance was "continuous" and created not only noise but "a physical sensation" residents could feel.
A Giga spokesperson said a sound study had been commissioned and it was working to install sound walls, according to the outlet.
"We care deeply about being a good neighbor in the communities where we build. The site is fully compliant with all local laws and regulations, and we have gone above and beyond by commissioning an additional sound study to share with county officials and the current owner/operator to help address community concerns. We are engineering and building additional sound walls to mitigate noise," the company said in a statement reported by Houston Public Media.
Residents are also asking who pays for the electricity infrastructure needed to serve data centers and politicians from both parties have begun addressing concerns that data centers could strain the grid and increase costs for ordinary customers. Republican Governor Greg Abbott has called for data centers to pay for their own electrical infrastructure and to report water and electricity use annually.
Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico has also called for a crackd...
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