Can communities mitigate their rising concerns about data centers?

The debate over data centers—whether to build them, where to build them, and how they impact communities—has become a dominant issue in small towns and big cities, attracting national attention. While some communities have chosen to proceed with data center development, others have pushed back, citing opaque land use agreements, higher electricity bills, environmental concerns, and workforce concerns. Given that the opinions of residents are becoming increasingly critical in the consideration of these deals, the question is whether industry, community, and government can ever get closer to agreement on data center development. 

On September 15, the Center for Technology Innovation (CTI) at Brookings hosted a conversation that brought together community, economic development, and technology experts to explore the role that communities must play in managing data center development. Panelists discussed policies and practices that advance equity in data center deals, and strategies to ensure communities are empowered to make choices that truly address their concerns.