Willie Nelson Urges Americans to Oppose Rural Data Centres

Country music star Willie Nelson has urged Americans to oppose the construction of data centres in rural communities, saying they harm the environment and threaten farmland.

In an open letter shared on social media, Nelson said his hometown of Abbott, Texas, should resist plans for new data centres. He described the facilities as noisy, heavy users of water and sources of light pollution.

Nelson argued that rural communities are built on farming, local businesses and open land, not large industrial developments. He also warned that farmland and water resources should be protected, saying they are essential for the country's future.

The comments come as data centres face growing criticism over their impact on local communities, energy use and water consumption. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has recently supported tighter rules on data centre development in rural areas, including requirements for additional power generation and water reuse.

Nelson, a long-time environmental campaigner, has raised millions of dollars through Farm Aid and supports several charities, including Feeding America and the American Red Cross.