"Some are the size of a Wal Mart and Some Are The Size of Twenty Football Fields" – Tuberville on Data Centers

July 23, 2026 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) discussed data centers during his weekly press call today, describing them as, "Some are the size of a Wal Mart and some are the size of twenty football fields." He repeated his support of data centers being constructed in Alabama. Comparing the AI race to the space race. As he described the artificial intelligence race as, "the space race for the 21st Century." With Tuberville expressing confidence that, "Alabama will ensure we will win the AI race."

Tuberville dismissed criticisms of data centers in his press conference as stemming from, "woke EU climate activists and foreign adversaries like Russia and China." He emphasized that data centers have been around for twenty years and that the Google data center in Scottsboro, Alabama has been around for fifteen years. He stated in his press call that Google has donated "half a million" to Jackson County Schools in Alabama. This $500,000 figure stems from a pledge Google made in their announcement of their proposed $1.5 billion investment to expand its data center campus in Jackson County, Alabama wherein they pledged to donate $550,00 to provide STEM kits for local schools. The donation to the local schools is around .04% of the amount Google is spending to increase the size of their data center in Scottsboro.

Coach Tuberville stated in his press call that, "There is no reason why we shouldn't securely house and manage our data in our state." As Tuberville specified that one of the reasons that he thinks data centers are needed is because, "We need somewhere to secure and store our data." If the data centers don't come to Alabama, they will go to, "blue states or China." With Tuberville stating that he didn't think we need to confide in China to secure our data.

While touting the possibilities of increasing the number of data centers operating in Alabama, Tuberville did admit that, "Back in the day they created some environmental problems and they were noisy." However, Tuberville stated, "The technology has improved dramatically." It is important to note that the environmental consequences of data centers are actually being reported from those living near data centers in the present day. But, Tuberville stated that, " . . . we will require the latest and greatest technology to avoid these issues in Alabama."

Tuberville also stated that he pledges, "to every single Alabamian that I will protect every Alabamian from paying a single cent more for their energy as a result of a data center moving to their community." Tuberville further stated that he wants to, "make sure Alabama taxpayers get a great deal." Tuberville also laid out three ground rules that he stated data centers will have to agree to if they want to come our state. With the first rule being that, "They must use recycled water techniques and cannot draw from fresh drinking waters." The second rule being that, "All energy, infrastructure, and energy grid costs must be paid by the developers of that data center and not the Alabama taxpayers." And the third rule being that, "The tax revenue generated by these data centers must be invested in the local communities that they are in and not end up in the pockets of politicians." Tuberville did not specify just how he would go about enforcing said ground rules. But, he did mention that there are already more than twenty data centers of all sizes currently operating withing the State of Alabama.

Luisa Reyes is a Tuscaloosa attorney, piano instructor, poet, vocalist, reporter, and columnist who writes on current affairs, politics, and the arts.