Lifelong Republican Rethinks His Vote After Texas Data Centre Becomes an Issue That 'Directly Impacts' Him

A lifelong Republican in Texas says a proposed data centre near his home has changed the way he plans to vote, as rapid development of AI infrastructure becomes an increasingly prominent issue ahead of the US midterm elections.

Dave Lowe, who lives near a proposed data centre project in Red Oak, Texas, told CBS News that the development was the first political issue in his adult life that he felt would 'directly impact' him. He said he would no longer automatically vote Republican or Democrat, instead choosing candidates willing to address the concerns surrounding the project.

'This is the first time in my adult life where there's been an issue that's come up that I feel like is going to directly impact me,' Lowe said.

The comments came as CBS News examined growing opposition to data centres across the US, particularly in Texas, where large-scale facilities are being planned alongside an expanding artificial intelligence industry.

Data centres house the computing infrastructure used to run digital services and increasingly powerful AI systems. CBS reported that there are more than 3,000 across the US, with another 1,500 proposed. The rapid expansion has brought concerns about electricity demand, water consumption, traffic, noise, and the effect of industrial development on rural communities.

Texas Data Centre Development Raises Local Concerns

In Red Oak, Lowe is part of a group of several dozen residents from across the political spectrum who meet twice a month to discuss plans for new developments.

Their focus is a proposal by Compass Datacenters to build 10 two-storey data centres on agricultural land. CBS reported that the site would cover an area comparable to Manhattan's Central Park.

If all seven proposed campuses in the area were completed, they would cover more than a quarter of Red Oak, a town with a population of about 20,000.

Lowe said traffic, congestion, noise and potential environmental effects were among his concerns. His comments reflect the increasing political debate around data centre development, with opposition appearing in communities that do not necessarily share the same political outlook.

More than 60% of Republicans, independents and Democrats surveyed, according to the CBS report, said they did not want a data centre located where they live.

Jazmin Villegas, a Marine veteran and mother of five who lives on a farm outside Dallas, has also emerged as a prominent opponent of a proposed development near her home.

She said she was concerned about possible effects on water, air, noise and pollution, while acknowledging that she could not yet know what the impact would be.

'It might not be an enemy, per se,' Villegas said. 'But how do I know that these chemicals or this pollution, water, air, noise, isn't going to affect my community, isn't going to affect me?'

The concerns have reached local government meetings, where some residents have also questioned how projects are approved and how much information developers provide before decisions are made.

Data Centre Boom Puts Texas Officials Under Pressure

The expansion has also created a complicated political calculation for Texas, where attracting technology investment has been a priority.

Republican Governor Greg Abbott previously promoted the state as a major destination for AI data centres. His position has since shifted, with Abbott announcing in August that approval of new data centres drawing from the state's power grid would be paused while an audit was completed.

A spokesperson for Abbott told CBS that the governor's position was that 'Texans come first'. The administration said data centres would have to meet requirements concerning electricity infrastructure, water, residential costs and the impact on rural and residential communities before connecting to the grid.

'Any project that fails to meet these standards will be denied connection to the Texas grid,' the spokesperson said.

The political significance of the issue is particularly clear in the contest between Abbott and Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who has made data centre development a major part of her campaign and called for a temporary moratorium.

Yet the debate is not simply about opposition to technology.

Michael Webber, a University of Texas professor specialising in the relationship between water and energy, said the scale of modern AI facilities was dramatically different from earlier data centres. He said a large facility might once have required about five megawatts, while a new AI data centre could require 1,000 megawatts.

Webber also argued that communities have legitimate reasons to demand safeguards from technology companies.

'I tell them, you need to pay your taxes, and hire people, and be power-flexible, water-positive, and carbon-negative,' he said.

The industry points to jobs, investment and technological development in response. Compass said it had worked with residents and officials in Red Oak and Ellis County for more than five years and had incorporated community feedback into its plans.

The company said its proposals included closed-loop water systems and investment in the electricity grid without shifting costs to homes and businesses.

Amazon Web Services also said it had considered Hood County for a potential development but ultimately decided not to build there and received no county incentives. The company said its data centre investments elsewhere were intended to create jobs, generate revenue for public services and support infrastructure.

For Lowe, however, the immediate question is closer to home. His position does not amount to a formal switch of party allegiance, but he has made clear that the data centre debate will now influence how he votes.

'This time around, I've made the decision that I'm not going to vote red or blue,' he said. 'I'm going to vote for the candidate that is willing to speak up, and put up, and do something to help us with this issue.'