Doug Jones questions Tommy Tuberville’s stock trades and data center stance
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Doug Jones criticized Senator Tommy Tuberville over his stance on data centers and alleged stock trades, advocating for a one-year moratorium and stricter regulations in Alabama. Tuberville responded with his own plan, emphasizing local control and full cost coverage for resources used by data centers. The debate highlights increasing concerns about data centers among Alabama voters.
Doug Jones, a Democratic candidate for governor in Alabama, has launched criticisms against Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville regarding his approach to data center development and his alleged stock trades. Jones specifically highlighted over 250 stock transactions, valued between $5 million and $14 million, involving companies associated with artificial intelligence and data centers, as disclosed in U.S. Senate Financial Disclosures. He questioned whether Tuberville personally benefits from data center projects, citing Tuberville's past stock activity with Chinese company Alibaba, a major AI and data center developer.
Jones has proposed a one-year moratorium on data center construction in Alabama. During this period, he seeks to establish comprehensive statewide regulations and ethics policies, which would include full transparency, a ban on non-disclosure agreements for developers, and a prohibition on stock trading by state officeholders while in office. Jones also urged Senator Tuberville to divest from AI and data center-related companies.
Senator Tuberville's campaign declined to comment directly on Jones' remarks, instead referencing an opinion piece from the senator. In his piece, Tuberville advocated for local community control over data center decisions, requiring data centers to fully cover their energy and water costs, replace consumed resources, and be taxed at the highest property tax rate. Jones asserts that data centers are becoming a critical concern for Alabama voters across all demographics as the general election approaches.