Agriculture commissioner nominee sounds alarm over data centers to East Texans

Democratic nominee for Texas Agriculture Commissioner Clayton Tucker has called for a moratorium on data center development in East Texas. Speaking at an event hosted by the Northeast Texas National Organization for Women, Tucker expressed concerns that unchecked data center expansion would significantly increase the cost of essential resources such as water and electricity, as well as land and food, causing hardship for residents. He emphasized the need for a pause to ensure proper development and address the implications of artificial intelligence. Residents of East Texas share these anxieties. Marlene Jowell, a Cherokee County resident, voiced fears over potential water loss and questioned the estimated impact of data centers on daily life. The regional opposition is underscored by current issues, including a lawsuit against the City of Sulphur Springs by a resident alleging a lack of transparency regarding project details. Additionally, a $1.5 billion data center project in Angelina County is expected to alter the local tax base. Mitzi Rusk, outreach director for the Northeast Texas National Organization for Women, added that the current data center technology might be a "bubble that is going to burst" as newer, more resource-efficient technologies emerge.