Data centers affecting US farmers beyond land, electrical rates: Commissioner | The Hill

The rapid proliferation of data centers across the United States, with a significant number planned for rural areas, is generating considerable backlash, particularly from farmers. This development, which President Trump advocates for as part of an AI push, is impacting farmlands and local resources. In Festus, Missouri, local opposition to a $6 billion data center project led to voters ousting all four incumbent city council members after the project's approval. This act sent a strong message to city hall regarding residents' concerns about the data center's impact. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is actively addressing these concerns, planning to meet with the White House and working with Texas Congressman Pete Sessions. Miller proposes a plan to implement "Ag Culture Freedom Zones," utilizing tax incentives to guide data center development away from prime agricultural land and towards brownfields or marginal land. His initiative also aims to address issues like soaring electricity rates, increased strain on the power grid, and excessive water consumption by data centers, which negatively affect farmers' ability to irrigate crops and maintain affordable production costs. Miller's efforts extend to advocating for solutions like small modular reactors for power generation and closed-loop water systems for data centers.