1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

President Trump has declared data centers critical infrastructure for national security, but that designation cannot become a free pass for tech companies to extract resources from our communities without accountability. I need you to support legislation requiring AI companies to fully disclose water and energy consumption and to condition all tax incentives on measurable public benefits. The numbers tell the story. Amazon cleared 1,200 acres of Indiana farmland for an $11 billion data farm while the state could forego up to $1 billion in tax revenue. These facilities create fewer than 200 permanent jobs each, yet place massive demands on local energy, water, and land. Financial gains flow to tech investors while environmental and economic burdens fall on us. If data centers are truly critical infrastructure, companies must contribute fairly to the communities hosting them. Tax incentives should require pre-set numbers of durable jobs and local infrastructure investments. We need mechanisms like royalties or revenue-sharing agreements, similar to what oil and gas companies pay, so communities receive meaningful shares of the wealth generated on our land. Tech companies present themselves as economic catalysts, but the evidence shows persistent gaps between their promises and what communities actually receive. Hold them accountable.