Republican Arizona state Rep. Justin Wilmeth spoke in defense of data centers, arguing that attacks against them belie evidence that they serve the public’s best interest, amid growing debate about development in the state. As chairman of the Arizona House of Representatives Committee on Artificial Intelligence & Innovation, Wilmeth said that data centers would help “Make America Visionary Again” by giving the United States an edge in the global AI race. He expressed concern that foreign funding is propelling opposition to technological advancement. His position, as outlined in an op-ed for the Arizona Republic, comes after a developer recently retracted plans to build the biggest data center complex in the state, upon facing backlash from Rural Arizona Engagement and other residents. “The activist groups scaring you about data centers received approximately $39 million in foreign funding, which was plowed into anti-data center messaging campaigns, lobbyist schemes and public pressure protest campaigns,” Wilmeth wrote. “Why is it worth it to outside interests to dump so much money into this matter? That alone should make you suspicious and concerned. This is also absolutely about our nation’s national security. We don’t want an even-more-powerful China controlling the world’s digital future.”