Divided America, the left and right unite to oppose artificial intelligence data centers

In rural eastern Nebraska, opposition to new artificial-intelligence data centers is cutting across party lines, drawing conservative farmers and environmental advocates into a rare coalition. Residents in and around Murdock, population about 275, and nearby Cass County officials have raised concerns that rapid development could reduce farmland, strain limited water supplies, and drive up electricity bills, while large corporations reshape small-town life. Cass County approved a 12-month moratorium on data center development, potentially affecting Tenaska’s plan to option 1,300-plus acres along Highway 75. Tenaska said it is exploring power generation for data centers and other economic development.