Willie Nelson urges Americans to fight 'water thieving' AI data centers devouring rural Texas farmland

He added, “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.”

Nelson’s a longtime environmental advocate, and has raised more than $90 million through his Farm Aid nonprofit, which he cofounded with John Mellencamp and Neil Young more than four decades ago.

The charity was first formed in 1985 to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on the land.

On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott called for a ban on data center developments in rural Texas.

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“We must prohibit them from building AI data centers in rural Texas neighborhoods,” he said on a campaign stop in Bullard, according to the Texas Tribune.

“I made clear already: Any AI data center even thinking about coming here — they got to bring their own money, bring their own power, reuse their own water and do it in a way that reduces the cost of electricity for residents across our state.”

“We must eliminate the tax break they are getting. They must be responsible for funding their own projects here in Texas. We will get that done.”