Americans unite in opposition to data centers
Opposition is growing across the US against new data center developments, notably in rural eastern Nebraska's Cass County where a 12-month moratorium was enacted. In New Mexico, Oracle's Project Jupiter faces a legal challenge over water rights, leading to a temporary halt on well drilling. This nationwide debate cuts across political lines, fueled by concerns over farmland, water, electricity, and the impact on small communities.
Across rural eastern Nebraska, an unlikely bipartisan coalition of conservative farmers and environmental groups, including the state Sierra Club chapter, has formed to oppose the rapid development of data centers. Residents of Murdock, Nebraska, expressed concerns over dwindling farmland, declining water supplies, and rising electricity bills, fearing that massive corporations could transform small towns into computing hubs.
In response to these concerns, Cass County officials, where Murdock is located, recently approved a 12-month moratorium on new data center development. This action potentially impacts energy company Tenaska's plans for a 1,300-acre project and CyrusOne's control over nearly 400 acres near Plattsmouth, though no development has occurred there. Supporters, including union leaders and former President Donald Trump, highlight potential jobs and economic growth, positioning data centers as crucial for U.S. technological supremacy.
The opposition extends beyond Nebraska. In New Mexico, Oracle's proposed $165 billion Project Jupiter data center complex near the Mexican border is facing significant challenges, particularly over water usage amidst persistent drought conditions. The Center for Biological Diversity filed an emergency petition with the New Mexico Supreme Court, which granted a request halting authorization for new well drilling to supply the project's construction water. Oracle has pledged investments in local water systems and agricultural technology to mitigate impacts.
State-level officials are also responding to the shifting political landscape. New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered a one-year ban on large data centers, while Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced his administration would deprioritize data center projects that don't meet specific standards. Texas Governor Greg Abbott halted new data center approvals pending audits of their impact on the state's electrical grid. Opposition is even influencing electoral campaigns, with candidates like Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti taking strong stances against data center construction.