Experts urge Oklahoma lawmakers to weigh data centers’ economic and strategic benefits
Experts told Oklahoma lawmakers that data centers could support economic growth and U.S. technological competitiveness without necessarily increasing residential electricity costs or straining water supplies. The discussion highlighted Oklahoma's expanding power production and 2025 Behind the Meter Act, while lawmakers considered how to develop policy around future data centers.
Economist Rick Evans of the Abundance Institute told the Oklahoma Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee that the state’s planned expansion of electricity production and its 2025 Behind the Meter Act could help accommodate data centers without shifting additional costs to residential customers. He said on-site power generation and closed-loop cooling systems could reduce concerns about grid capacity and water consumption, while data centers could generate substantial property-tax revenue for local governments.
Alexander B. Gray, CEO of American Global Strategies, said data-center development is strategically important to maintaining U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence and competing with China. State Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, said he convened the informal meeting so lawmakers could hear information from different perspectives before making decisions that could affect Oklahoma for decades.