Tulsa Residents Gather for Town Hall on Data Center Impacts
Over 400 residents attended a town hall in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to discuss the impacts of AI data centers. Community members from Tulsa and Sand Springs voiced concerns about rising costs, water usage, and being excluded from decision-making processes regarding these developments. Advocacy groups are pushing for greater resident involvement before projects are approved.
More than 400 people attended a town hall in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sunday night to address the impacts of AI data centers, an issue organizers believe is increasingly affecting Oklahomans by creating a tension between economic growth and resource conservation.
The event, titled "AI Data Centers: Who Pays the Price," brought together community members from Tulsa, Sand Springs, and East Tulsa. Attendees expressed frustration over learning about data center projects only after key decisions have been made, particularly regarding rising costs and water use.
Clara Mattei of the Forum for Real Economic Emancipation encouraged residents to become actively involved in decision-making processes that will affect their communities and future generations. Panelist Kyle Schmidt, from the Protect Sand Springs Alliance, shared his personal motivation for organizing after a data center developer proposed a project near his neighborhood, describing it as antithetical to the 'American dream' and highlighting concerns about large corporations overriding local communities.
Cheyanna Morgan of Stop Data Colonialism, who lives near the Meta-backed Project Anthem site in East Tulsa, spoke about the broader economic impact, citing instances where residents near the Google data center in Pryor have been priced out of their homes due to an influx of out-of-state workers. Organizers emphasized that their goal is not to halt technology investment but to ensure residents have a voice before deals are finalized, urging community members to monitor city council agendas, zoning notices, and land records.