Data Centers Spark Big Debate Among Rural Communities

Data centers are a hot-button issue right now, with 1000s of new facilities scheduled to be built across the country. Special Envoy for American Landowners John Rich weighs in on what that means for American landowners.

“Secretary Rollins made a really great comment. She said, "We need data centers in America. The president has declared them as national security assets, so they're important that we have them. She said, "However, there is a right way to build them, and there's a wrong way to build them. I believe she is going to work on a framework around data centers specifically. That is something that I will have a voice in that room as we're working on it. It is maybe far and away the largest topic right now to landowners. Is hey, what's going on with this data center? And again, we have to have them per the president. I mean, a national security asset's a big deal, but we also have landowners. What about them? You know, and I think to her point, there's a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it, and I would be expecting news on that in the very near future.”

Rich, well known for being a part of the country music duel Big and Rich, says the new special envoy position is a voluntary position. He will work directly with landowners across the country and coordinate with USA leadership and federal agencies, giving landowners a direct line into federal decision making, he was officially sworn in on Friday.