Willie Nelson urged Americans to think again when it comes to building the future.
Nelson, 93, encouraged followers to “fight against data centers invading our land” in a social media plea shared Tuesday.
The country music legend reflected on being able to see “stars at night” in his Texas hometown, but that light pollution and “water thieving” were imminent in a looming industrial climate.
“I grew up in Abbott, and I still have a home there with farmed land where I can still see stars at night,” Nelson told his followers.
“And now our community, like many others, needs to fight against data centers invading our land.
“The last thing we need is a loud, water thieving, light polluting, data center anywhere near our town (or any others for that matter).”
The “On the Road Again” singer noted how “the strength of rural America has never come from big industrial footprints.”
“It comes from generations of people, open spaces, local businesses, and a connection to the land,” Nelson wrote. “All of America deserves thoughtful stewardship that doesn’t steal farmland (where our essential shared-food is grown) and small family farmers’ livelihoods, and not data centers that only destroy the environment around them.
“Whoever controls food and water, controls the masses. Let’s not allow our own demise or give up control over necessary resources in the U.S. and especially in Abbott.”
Nelson’s a longtime environmental advocate and has raised more than $90 million through his Farm Aid nonprofit, which he co-founded with John Mellencamp and Neil Young more than four decades ago.
The charity was first formed in 1985 to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on the land.
On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott called for a ban on data center developments in rural Texas.
“We must prohibit them from building AI data centers in rural Texas neighborhoods,” he said on a campaign stop in Bullard, according to The Texas Tribune.
“I made clear already: Any AI data center even thinking about coming here — they got to bring their own money, bring their own power, reuse their own water and do it in a way that reduces the cost of electricity for residents across our state.
“We must eliminate the tax break they are getting. They must be responsible for funding their own projects here in Texas. We will get that done.”
