Religion shapes opposition to data centers in Hood County, Texas

Hood County, Texas resident Matt Long has voiced strong opposition against planned data center construction near his home, specifically targeting negotiations with tech giants Google, Meta, and Amazon. This local pushback is part of a broader trend in Texas, where nearly 600 data centers are either planned or already operational, leading to growing community resistance.

Residents' concerns primarily revolve around the environmental impact of these facilities, citing their heavy consumption of water, land, and electricity. Notably, some opponents, including Long, are incorporating religious arguments into their activism. They reference biblical passages, interpreting data centers as a potential spiritual threat that could disrupt divine order. Clayton Tucker, a Catholic Democrat running for Texas Agriculture Commissioner, further likens the rapid development to the temptation in the Garden of Eden.

Joseph Lock, a professor of Texas and American religious history at UNT, notes that religious arguments are a historical characteristic of social and political movements in Texas. However, not all religious Texans share the same views; some support technological innovation if developed responsibly, while others view the environmental and community impacts of data centers as violations of religious principles.

This diverse religious perspective means opposition to data centers in Texas spans various faiths, including Christians, Jews, and Unitarian Universalists, united across the political spectrum by the fundamental question of how much should be sacrificed for data center development.