Willie Nelson Takes a Stand Against AI Data Centers

Democratic supporters seem to be uniting behind Willie Nelson in a growing movement against artificial intelligence data centers.

The 93-year-old country music legend, a lifelong Democrat, has emerged as a prominent voice voicing dissent towards these facilities, previously expressing his concerns on the social media platform Axios. Jane Kleeb, who leads the environmental group Bold Alliance and chairs the Nebraska Democratic Party, compared Nelson’s influence in these protests to that of Yoda from Star Wars, according to Axios.

“The last thing we need is a data center near our town—or any town for that matter—that is noisy, causes water theft, and generates light pollution,” Nelson stated in an Instagram post from July 28th. “All Americans deserve managed stewardship that doesn’t take away farmland and the livelihoods of small family farmers, rather than data centers that harm the surrounding environment.”

“We always listen to Yoda,” Kleeb remarked about Nelson, showing her admiration for his role in the movement.

Kleeb has been an outspoken advocate for reforming the practices surrounding data centers. In February, she testified to Nebraska state legislators about this issue.

“Data centers provide the essential digital infrastructure not only for AI but for every online transaction, telehealth consultation, digital news piece, and online class,” Dan Diorio, executive vice president of national policy and government affairs at the Data Center Coalition (DCC), shared with the Daily Caller News Foundation. He added that the DCC is committed to working alongside communities and policymakers to promote the sustainable management of natural resources while enabling responsible development within this industry.

The DCC emphasizes the economic impact of the industry, with Diorio noting projections of 5.5 million jobs and a GDP contribution of $1.7 trillion by 2024. He pointed out that data centers are responsible for covering their energy costs, referencing data from E3 and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

When asked about Nelson’s stance on data centers, the singer’s PR firm, Shock Inc., directed inquiries to his social media remarks.

Bold Alliance and the Nebraska Democratic Party haven’t responded to requests for comments yet.

“There’s no better way to stay relevant than in the data center space,” Kleeb commented, indicating that mobilizing communities to oppose such projects is often more achievable than trying to build them.

Kleeb became chairman of the Nebraska Democratic Party in December 2016. The party was integral in organizing local resistance to the Keystone XL pipeline, persuading even conservative farmers and ranchers about the potential risks involved in Canadian energy projects.

“They have a right to their opinion, and I have a right to mine,” Nelson stated, reflecting on criticism he faced for supporting Democratic Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke.

In a similar vein, Nelson opposed the Keystone pipeline, even holding a concert in Nebraska to protest against it back in 2014. “For 29 years, corporations have been taking land from small family farmers, and we’re here to fight against that,” Nelson remarked during the concert.

He reiterated his longstanding support for the Democratic Party, as noted in his statements from 2018.

On the other hand, the data center sector claims it is actively tackling local objections. “We are committed to better demonstrating our dedication to responsible development,” Diorio remarked, adding that the DCC is making strides to address community concerns regarding data centers.

The DCC defends numerous major data center operators and tech companies that frequently rely on their services.