People Are 'Wound Up' Over Data Centers, Perot Jr. Says
Ross Perot Jr. says data centers are essential to U.S. economic competitiveness and artificial intelligence development. He argues that public concern about data centers is growing unnecessarily and says responsible development can generate significant tax revenue for communities.
Ross Perot Jr., a Texas real estate developer, described data centers as the "21st century factories" and argued that continued growth is necessary for the United States to compete with China in artificial intelligence. Speaking at Bloomberg Invest in Dallas, he said data centers can bring substantial prosperity and tax revenue to host communities.
Perot said data centers became controversial only recently, comparing the public reaction to earlier concerns about hydraulic fracturing. He cited large facilities developed for companies including Facebook, Charles Schwab, Citigroup, AIG and Blue Cross Blue Shield, and noted that Facebook has become the top taxpayer in Fort Worth. He maintained that developers must work with communities and ensure projects are built responsibly.