Willie nelson is pushing back against data centers in his hometown – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026

All the latest updates on AI data centers

See all Stories

Posted Jul 29, 2026 at 12:07 AM UTC

J

Willie Nelson is pushing back against data centers in his hometown.

“The last thing we need is a loud, water thieving, light polluting, data center anywhere near our town (or any others for that matter),” Nelson says.

A message from Willie Nelson about data centers. It says: “I grew up in Abbott, and I still have a home there with farmed land where I can still see stars at night. 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 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. 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.” -Willie Nelson

Image: Willie Nelson

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.

Jay Peters

Loading comments

Getting the conversation ready...

Most Popular

This tattoo is permanent, pain-free, and might soon come in the mail

This tattoo is permanent, pain-free, and might soon come in the mail

NASA’s Curiosity rover found a ‘sea of polygons’ on Mars

NASA’s Curiosity rover found a ‘sea of polygons’ on Mars

DoorDash is going airborne with new drone delivery division

DoorDash is going airborne with new drone delivery division

AI’s finally expensive enough to make Wall Street nervous

AI’s finally expensive enough to make Wall Street nervous

Amazon’s trying to launch a global satellite cellphone network in 2028

Amazon’s trying to launch a global satellite cellphone network in 2028

The tech-broification of American science has officially begun

The tech-broification of American science has officially begun

This tattoo is permanent, pain-free, and might soon come in the mail

This tattoo is permanent, pain-free, and might soon come in the mail

This tattoo is permanent, pain-free, and might soon come in the mail

Jess WeatherbedJul 31

NASA’s Curiosity rover found a ‘sea of polygons’ on Mars

NASA’s Curiosity rover found a ‘sea of polygons’ on Mars

NASA’s Curiosity rover found a ‘sea of polygons’ on Mars

Stevie BonifieldJul 30

DoorDash is going airborne with new drone delivery division

DoorDash is going airborne with new drone delivery division

DoorDash is going airborne with new drone delivery division

Andrew J. HawkinsJul 29

AI’s finally expensive enough to make Wall Street nervous

AI’s finally expensive enough to make Wall Street nervous

AI’s finally expensive enough to make Wall Street nervous

Elizabeth LopattoJul 28

Amazon’s trying to launch a global satellite cellphone network in 2028

Amazon’s trying to launch a global satellite cellphone network in 2028

Amazon’s trying to launch a global satellite cellphone network in 2028

Stevie BonifieldJul 27

The tech-broification of American science has officially begun

The tech-broification of American science has officially begun

The tech-broification of American science has officially begun

Robert HartJul 24

6:20 PM UTC

Is this Billboard Hot 100 hit AI slop?

1:30 PM UTC

You could be taking way better photos on your phone

Jul 31

With Switch 2, iPhone, and laptop tricks, the Sharge Disk Pro 2 is finally a worthy EDC

Two hours ago

Angela Nissel faces down grief with a laugh

Jul 31

This tattoo is permanent, pain-free, and might soon come in the mail