(RNS) — Less than a week after Prince George’s County, Maryland, passed a two-year moratorium on hyperscale data center development, many residents received an anonymous mass text message promoting the economic benefits of data centers. Though the text wasn’t signed, it linked to a pro-data center website with the URL interfaithaction.net.
The mysterious text, sent July 10, prompted annoyance, anger and confusion from some residents of the suburban county bordering Washington, D.C., who expressed wariness about data center propaganda.
But when RNS identified the faith leader behind the text, the Rev. Derrick Green, he said, “We’re really trying to get information out to people in real ways, in credible ways, so that people can make their own decisions on how they want to move forward with data centers.”
After she received the text, Elizabeth McNamara, a resident of Prince George’s County, was immediately suspicious. McNamara posted the message to a local Facebook page, warning others, “without any identifiable names or organization, seems more likely to be a cover for data center lobbyists. Be careful!”
Though she sees “pros and cons” to data centers, McNamara told RNS, “it seemed like they were trying to falsely promote the economic benefits to a community without the cost. And seemingly pressuring people of faith to blindly support their po …