Willie Nelson on 'Water-Thieving' Data Centers: NIMBY, Baby

Willie Nelson has a new target in his sights, and it's not a politician or a record label. In an open letter posted on social media, the 93-year-old country icon urged Americans—especially residents of his hometown of Abbott, Texas—to resist a wave of new data centers that he says threaten rural land, water, and small farmers, reports Variety. "The last thing we need is a loud, water thieving, light polluting, data center anywhere near our town (or any others for that matter)," he wrote. Nelson argued that the power of rural America lies in "generations of people, open spaces, local business, and a connection to the land," not large industrial projects.

Framing the issue as one of basic resources, he warned, "Whoever controls food and water, controls the masses," and pressed communities not to "give up control" of those essentials, notes People. Data centers have faced growing opposition nationwide over energy use, water consumption, and local impacts. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has pushed for restrictions on rural data center development, including rules on power generation and water reuse. Nelson's stance aligns with his long-running advocacy for farmers and the environment—his Farm Aid efforts alone have raised more than $70 million for rural communities.