Texas has become one of the biggest hotspots for data centers in the United States, and some local communities have reportedly turned to religion as a way to brace for the potential negative impacts of their construction. Reports of these practices did not sit well with many Texas residents, however, as some believe it is a futile effort to seek divine intervention while voting against their own interests.
Bloomberg recently reported on Texas communities that are turning to religion as a way to cope with concerns about data centers. According to the report, worries about high electricity demand, water usage, and strain on local infrastructure are common as the AI-driven expansion of data centers continues across Texas.
The issue has become increasingly politically sensitive, as even some Republican voters, who generally support tech investments, are starting to express concern. The report uses the example of Granbury, Texas, where city council meetings begin with prayers, and members of the local development commission have “prayed to Jesus” to prevent data centers from being built in the region.
Despite these common concerns, Texas is making a major bet on data centers, offering generous incentives to attract investors.
Texas Residents React To Religious Outcry Against Data Centers
Reactions on Reddit’s r/Texas were not kind to those seen as voting for Republican politicians and then turning to religion when negatively affected by their decisions. One user argued that these projects are “backed by the people Texans vote for. They don’t hate data centers as much as they think they do.”
Others reacted with sarcasm, saying, “Dear god, please stop the people I keep voting for from letting tech oligarchs build data centers near us.” There were also harsher comments directed at those who believed religion would save them: “Faith without works is dead. Continously voting for the worst people and then asking Jesus to save you from the horrible decisions those people you keep voting for make won’t work and makes no sense.”
When responding to people asking Jesus to save them from data centers, one user even said bitterly, “Unfortunately, he’s been deported,” referencing immigration policies supported by the right-wing federal government.
The expansion of data centers in Texas will likely continue, and the resulting tensions between local religious responses and political criticism reflect a broader debate over this issue. In Granbury, for example, the local council has reportedly rezoned land for a data center project despite local objections.
