Senator Murdock Leads Discussion on Data Centers

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, today hosted a Senate committee meeting to explore the economic benefits and community concerns surrounding data center developments.

Murdock invited economists and a national security expert to the Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee to present on the wide-ranging impacts of the data center boom.

Murdock said it is critical for Oklahoma to get the data center issue right, noting that policymakers must have all the facts before advancing policies with lasting consequences. Hearing all sides of the debate is key to developing balanced policies, he said.

“Data centers can bring significant economic benefits, but the process must be transparent," Murdock said. “Intentional guardrails and strong transparency measures could be key to attracting data centers while still protecting Oklahoma communities.”

As an example, Dr. Rick Evans, senior economist at the Abundance Institute, noted that a 300-megawatt data center with an estimated value of $2.5 billion could produce $12.5 million to $25 million in additional property tax revenue each year.

Murdock said a tax windfall of that magnitude could be significant for any one of the 10 counties he serves.

“In the Panhandle and northwest Oklahoma, we’re losing businesses faster than we’re gaining them, so I’m always looking for ways to attract new industries and high-paying jobs to the region,” Murdock said. “Data centers present a unique opportunity to bring significant investment to my rural localities and generate millions of dollars in new tax revenue for schools, roads and basic services.”

Oklahoma State University economists provided information on how data centers can increase local tax revenue and community investment through property, utility and franchise taxes and payments directed toward community priorities and infrastructure improvements.

Dr. Mckenzie Boyce, an assistant professor in OSU's Department of Agricultural Economics, and Dr. Brian Whitacre, a professor in the same department, discussed the construction and long-term jobs data centers create, their potential effects on property values, differences in impacts between rural and urban communities and concerns related to water use and electricity costs.

Boyce concluded that while data centers can generate economic benefits, the scale of those benefits varies considerably based on the project, the community and the terms agreed to by a developer and a municipality.

Alexander Gray, chief executive officer of American Global Strategies, said America's national security and economic future are tied to its ability to lead in artificial intelligence and super intelligence. He noted that China plans to double its data center capacity by 2030 and said Chinese AI models, such as DeepSeek, distort the truth and reinforce the narratives of their authoritarian government.

“This discussion isn't really about data centers," Murdock said. "It's about AI and America's destiny. We are in a race with China for AI dominance, and we need to do everything we can to win. The country that controls the flow of information has the power to reshape our history and decide our future. Oklahoma has a role to play in making sure our nation remains a step ahead.”