Willie Nelson and Tanya Tucker are using their voices to raise concerns about the growing number of AI data centers and related infrastructure projects being developed across Texas.
Nelson, 93, recently shared an open letter titled “To Whom It May Concern and to Everyone Else as Well,” speaking out about data centers being built near his hometown of Abbott and in rural communities across the country.
“I grew up in Abbott, and I still have a home there with farmed land where I can still see stars at night,” Nelson wrote. He expressed concern that data centers could affect farmland, water resources, the environment, and the character of rural communities.
“The last thing we need is a loud, water thieving, light polluting, data center anywhere near our town,” Nelson wrote.
He also emphasized the importance of protecting farmers and the land that provides food for communities across America. Nelson argued that rural America has been built around generations of families, open spaces, local businesses, and a strong connection to the land.
Tanya Tucker, another proud Texas native, is also speaking out against data center-related development and proposed transmission lines in the state.
In a video message, Tucker expressed concerns about proposed 765-kilovolt transmission lines crossing ranches and the potential effects on property, wildlife, water resources, and the surrounding environment.
“I’m concerned about these 765 kilovolts of transmission lines coming through all the ranches in Texas and destroying our property,” Tucker said.
She urged Texans to learn more about the projects and called for a pause to allow officials and communities to better understand their potential impact.
Nelson and Tucker’s comments come as Texas is expected to see at least 248 new data center projects, according to a recent analysis by The Texas Tribune.
The two country music icons are joining a broader conversation in Texas about the environmental, water, land, and infrastructure impacts associated with the rapid expansion of data centers.