Jackson’s Lake Hico Data Center Gold Rush – Boon or Bust?

Jackson’s Lake Hico Data Center Gold Rush – Boon or Bust?

From The Clay Edwards Show by Clay Edwards

July 20, 2026 · 34 min · Episode 3224

About this episode

Clay Edwards and guest Creston Birch discuss the implications of a proposed data center investment in Jackson's Lake Hico.

In this segment of The Clay Edwards Show, Clay and guest Creston Birch go deep on the heated debate over bringing a massive hyperscale data center to Jackson’s Lake Hico site. City leaders are quietly pursuing a potential **$5–15 billion** private investment that could generate up to **$20 million annually** for Jackson’s struggling budget. Clay makes the case that this is a generational opportunity Jackson cannot afford to miss — delivering thousands of high-paying construction jobs, permanent tech and support positions, and major workforce development funding for JPS, Jackson State, and Hinds Community College. Clay pushes back hard against the opposition, calling out conspiracy theories about water theft, rolling blackouts, cancer risks, and claims that the city’s budget crisis was inflated to push the deal. He argues Jackson should stop cutting off its nose to spite its face and embrace real economic development instead of holding out for unrealistic “mixed-use” dreams. With existing power infrastructure, water access, and prime location near I-20, Lake Hico is perfectly positioned — but politics and fear may kill the deal before it starts. **Is this Jackson’s last best…

People in this episode

Host: Clay Edwards

Guest: Creston Birch

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Jackson State, Hinds Community College

Places: Jackson, Lake Hico

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