Data center companies have poured more than $343 million into community projects across rural Texas over the past year, according to a Texas Tribune analysis reported by Grist. The spending includes a $3 million water tower in Turkey, $400,000 for museum upgrades in Stamford, and a $10,000 barbecue for first responders in Medina County. Because not every donation is made public, the compiled total is likely an undercount.
The investments extend beyond small gestures. Google donated millions to the Haskell area for a hospital and pregnancy center, while Rowan Digital Infrastructure is giving $38 million to Temple for water infrastructure and additional funding for STEM centers in nearby schools. The analysis drew on news releases, public meeting agendas, and interviews with local officials.
Notably, much of this money has flowed to communities that have actively resisted data center development. The pattern suggests the companies are using their financial resources to build goodwill and reduce local opposition, rather than simply meeting regulatory requirements. The report frames the spending as an effort to win over residents through what it calls the industry's "bottomless bank accounts."