Protecting Oklahoma’s Future While Welcoming Responsible Growth
I am not against data centers.
I am not against manufacturing.
I am not against bringing good-paying jobs to Oklahoma.
I am against any project—whether it’s a data center, a smelter, or another large industrial development—that puts corporate profits ahead of Oklahoma families, our water resources, private property rights, or the health of our communities.
Economic development should benefit the people of Oklahoma first.
Growth without safeguards is not progress.
Step 1: Put a Temporary Pause on Certain High-Impact Projects
Before Oklahoma approves additional large-scale data centers or other major industrial developments with significant impacts on water, energy, or the environment, we need to understand the long-term consequences.
I support a temporary pause on approving new high-impact projects until Oklahoma completes a comprehensive review of:
- Water availability
- Electrical grid capacity
- Environmental impacts
- Economic benefits
- Community impacts
- Infrastructure costs
- Public safety considerations
We should measure twice before we cut once.
Step 2: Protect Oklahoma’s Water
Water is one of Oklahoma’s most valuable natural resources.
No industrial project should be approved if it places our long-term water supply at unnecessary risk.
Every major project should demonstrate:
- Sustainable water use
- Protection of aquifers
- Protection of rivers and streams
- Protection of municipal water systems
- Responsible wastewater management
- Long-term conservation planning
Our children and grandchildren deserve clean, reliable water.
Step 3: Protect Private Property Rights
No Oklahoman should feel powerless when a major industrial project is proposed near their home, farm, or business.
Property owners deserve:
- Early notification
- Public meetings
- Meaningful opportunities to ask questions
- Transparent environmental information
- A chance to voice concerns before major decisions are made
Government should listen before it approves.
Step 4: Learn from the Inola Smelter Debate
The proposed smelter near Inola has shown why transparency and public involvement matter.
Regardless of where someone stands on that specific proposal, many residents have expressed concerns about possible effects on nearby communities, agriculture, air quality, and their way of life.
Large industrial projects should never leave communities feeling that decisions were made before their voices were heard.
The lesson is simple:
The people who live there deserve a meaningful opportunity to participate in the process.
Step 5: Require Independent Environmental Reviews
Major industrial projects should be evaluated using credible scientific analysis.
Independent reviews should examine:
- Air quality
- Water use
- Water quality
- Soil impacts
- Noise
- Wildlife
- Agriculture
- Public health
- Long-term environmental sustainability
The public deserves access to this information before decisions are made.
Step 6: Make Corporations Invest in Oklahoma
If a corporation profits from Oklahoma’s resources, workforce, infrastructure, and communities, Oklahoma should also benefit.
Major projects should contribute to:
- Infrastructure improvements
- Workforce development
- Community investment
- Environmental stewardship
- Long-term economic growth
Economic development should create lasting value for the people—not simply short-term profits for investors.
Step 7: Encourage Self-Sufficient Development
Whenever practical, major industrial facilities should minimize demands on public resources.
Projects should be encouraged to invest in:
- On-site power generation where appropriate
- Water recycling and conservation
- Modern environmental technology
- Efficient infrastructure
- Responsible land use
Innovation should reduce the burden on Oklahoma communities.
Step 8: Let the People Be Heard
The Farmer Servant movement believes government should ask the people before making decisions that permanently affect their communities.
Through the People’s App, elected officials can poll verified Oklahoma voters to better understand public opinion on major economic development proposals.
The People’s Table will provide citizens with access to project information, environmental reports, economic analyses, and other publicly available materials so they can make informed decisions and provide meaningful feedback.
The final decisions remain with the appropriate governmental bodies, but those decisions should be informed by the voices of the people—not only by lobbyists, consultants, and corporate representatives.
Step 9: Welcome Responsible Business
Oklahoma should absolutely welcome businesses that want to invest in our state.
But responsible companies should welcome responsible standards.
Businesses that protect our water, respect local communities, create quality jobs, and operate transparently will find Oklahoma to be an outstanding place to invest.
Responsible development benefits everyone.
The Goal
The Farmer Servant Economic Development Plan is not anti-business.
It is pro-Oklahoma.
It recognizes that our water, our land, our farms, our ranches, our small towns, and our communities are every bit as valuable as the next major industrial project.
We can create jobs.
We can encourage innovation.
We can attract investment.
And we can do all of those things while protecting the resources and communities that make Oklahoma worth calling home.
Economic development should never force us to choose between prosperity and protecting our future.
With thoughtful planning, transparency, and public participation, we can achieve both.
Because the greatest resource Oklahoma has is not a corporation.
It’s the people of Oklahoma.