‘A deal with the devil’: Religion motivates data center opponents in Texas
Opposition to proposed data centers in Hood County, Texas, is increasingly motivated by religious beliefs, with residents likening developments to a "deal with the devil." Critics cite environmental impacts, high water and power consumption, and spiritual implications as reasons to oppose the projects. This religiously-rooted resistance is contributing to a growing bipartisan coalition against data center expansion across Texas.
Residents in Hood County, Texas, are increasingly voicing religiously-motivated opposition to proposed data center developments, with Matt Long, a member of the Hood County Development Commission, leading the charge at an April Granbury City Council zoning meeting. Long, a Christian, challenged the council on whether trading natural beauty for "godless technological complexes" and negotiating with tech giants like Google, Meta, and Amazon aligned with Christian values, likening such deals to making a "deal with the devil."
This sentiment is part of a broader, bipartisan movement in Texas against data center construction, fueled by concerns over environmental impact, and the massive amounts of water and power required by these facilities, especially for AI applications. Clayton Tucker, a Catholic Democrat running for Texas agriculture commissioner, questions the ethical implications of excessive technological development, while others, like Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian, a Republican, support data centers if built responsibly. Religious arguments span from apocalyptic interpretations of scripture by individuals like Long and Maria Miller, who see parallels to the Book of Revelation, to an emphasis on environmental stewardship and social justice by groups like Texas Impact and Dayenu.
Joseph Locke, a professor at the University of North Texas, notes that Texans frequently draw on religion for social and political change. This religious opposition is manifesting in prayer meetings and online groups. Polls indicate strong bipartisan opposition to data centers in Texas, with 71% of Democrats and 44% of Republicans opposing them, creating unexpected alliances between diverse political groups. Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs, a Democrat running for U.S. House in Virginia, also highlights the unifying potential of anti-data center sentiment across political divides, citing Virginia as a cautionary tale for Texas.