How community benefit agreements can mitigate public concerns about data centers

The data center boom is underway, yet protests and other forms of community resistance have arisen throughout the country over financial, energy, and environmental concerns as companies try to build more facilities. As a result, localities are employing community benefit agreements—some in negotiations with companies—that seek greater transparency and support for communities’ digital access, well-being, employment, and more.

On February 17, the Center for Technology Innovation (CTI) at Brookings hosted a webinar to discuss new CTI research detailing how local leaders can use community benefit agreements to address public concerns to ensure companies are more transparent, fair, and equitable as they build new data centers for AI expansion. Following a discussion of the report, Brookings CTI Senior Fellows Nicol Turner Lee and Darrell West lead a discussion with several experts on what communities can do to address local concerns, understand the costs and benefits of data centers, and reach concrete agreements that protect community interests.

Viewers submitted questions for speakers by emailing [email protected] or via X @BrookingsGov by using #CommunityBenefitAgreements.