By: Senator Alan Armstrong for the Tulsa World
Why is Meta building a billion-dollar AI data center in Oklahoma? Why will the largest aluminum smelter ever constructed in the United States be going up just outside Tulsa? And why are drone and advanced aviation companies increasingly choosing Oklahoma as a place to invest and grow?
The answer is simple: Oklahoma has become one of the best places in America to build.
At a time when policymakers across the country are searching for ways to strengthen domestic manufacturing and attract investment, Oklahoma is proving that success is not an accident. Under Gov. Kevin Stitt’s leadership, our state has positioned itself to compete for the industries that will define the 21st century.
The foundation of that success is affordable and plentiful energy, and a rational permitting regime that focuses on protecting the environment in a practical fact-based way. Thanks to Oklahoma’s abundant natural gas, wind, solar and hydropower, it enjoys some of the lowest priced delivered energy in the nation. Plus, Oklahoma welcomes economic growth with a permitting process that encourages speed without harming the environment. Together, these factors create fertile ground for growth that benefits the state and the nation.
Oklahoma is connected with abundant infrastructure that allows our consumers to enjoy low delivered prices. Unlike regions burdened by infrastructure bottlenecks and energy volatility, Oklahoma offers businesses confidence that the power they need will be available when they need it.
Gov. Stitt understood early that America’s next wave of investment would follow affordable energy, infrastructure and regulatory certainty. Rather than waiting for opportunity to arrive, Oklahoma positioned itself to capture it.
In 2025, the state unanimously enacted a groundbreaking “behind-the-meter” law that allows large energy users, including hyperscale data centers, to co-locate generation with their facilities that ensures that the Oklahoma consumer’s utility bills are unaffected. The reform gives companies greater flexibility, accelerates development timelines and removes barriers that often slow projects elsewhere.
Just as important is Oklahoma’s culture. State leaders have embraced the jobs, investment and opportunity that come with growth. Developers and manufacturers know they will receive clear answers and a predictable path forward.
The results are becoming impossible to ignore.
In April, Meta broke ground on a more than $1 billion AI-optimized data center in Tulsa. The project will create hundreds of construction jobs, improve local infrastructure and further establish Oklahoma as a destination for next-generation technology investment.
Near Tulsa, the largest aluminum smelter ever built in the United States is under development through a partnership involving Century Aluminum. The facility is expected to more than double domestic aluminum smelting capacity and restore America’s ability to produce military-grade aluminum at home. That kind of manufacturing investment requires enormous amounts of affordable, reliable power — exactly the advantage Oklahoma provides.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma is emerging as a national hub for drone innovation and advanced aviation. Building on the state’s aerospace heritage, uncongested airspace and pro-growth environment, companies are developing technologies that will strengthen both our economy and our national security.
For decades, Oklahoma has powered America’s growth through oil and natural gas. Today, we are also helping power the future through AI infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and aerospace innovation.
These investments mean more than impressive headlines. They mean ad valorem taxes for our public schools, construction jobs, engineering jobs, manufacturing jobs and new opportunities for young Oklahomans who want to build successful careers without leaving the state.
A recent Wall Street Journal analysis of ADP payroll data found that both Tulsa and Oklahoma City are emerging as attractive destinations for college graduates. Tulsa ranked among the nation’s top markets for young professionals and was one of the fastest-rising metro areas in the country, while Oklahoma City ranked in the 98th percentile for affordability and was also among the nation’s biggest movers.
Together, they demonstrate that Oklahoma is offering something increasingly rare: strong job opportunities paired with a cost of living that allows young people to buy a home, raise a family and build a future. Ultimately, the value of these investments lies in their impact on people’s lives, not simply attracting investment, but creating a place where the next generation can afford to stay, work and prosper. I am getting to experience the fifth generation of my family growing up as Okies. I want this next generation to be exposed to the same values and career opportunities that I have enjoyed.
None of this happened by accident. Gov. Stitt understands that investment follows certainty. Businesses can overcome many challenges, but they will not invest dollars where energy is costly or the rules are unclear and timelines are unpredictable.
At a time when many states are asking why investment is going elsewhere and blocking critical infrastructure, Oklahoma is showing what happens when government gets the fundamentals right: affordable energy, reliable infrastructure and predictable rules.
Sound like common sense to you? Well, you might just be an Okie!
Alan Armstrong, a Republican, is a U.S. senator from Oklahoma. He was appointed to the office in March by Gov. Kevin Stitt. He served as CEO and executive board chairman of Williams from 2011 to 2025.