Fact Check: Where do Senate candidates Hyde-Smith, Colom stand on data centers?
Mississippi has at least five major data center projects underway, including Amazon's planned investment of more than $20 billion across multiple campuses in Madison County. Senate candidates Cindy Hyde-Smith and Scott Colom differ over the projects, with Hyde-Smith supporting measures to make data centers pay for grid costs and Colom calling for an immediate pause on construction until companies commit to covering their impacts.
Mississippi is emerging as a major data center hub, with at least five large projects underway. Amazon has identified Madison County as a significant investment destination and has expanded plans announced in 2024 from $10 billion to more than $20 billion across multiple campuses and development phases. Supporters say tax incentives are needed to attract the projects, while critics are concerned about energy costs and local resource demands.
U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith says Mississippi should pursue artificial intelligence investment while requiring companies to pay for their own infrastructure and protecting residents from higher utility costs. Her Democratic challenger, Scott Colom, is calling for an immediate pause on data center construction and says companies should cover the energy costs and provide durable local economic benefits before projects proceed.