Data Centers – Public Input and
Discussion - Before the Megawatts Arrive
What Communities Should Know About Data Centers
What is a Datacenter?
Why Talk About this Now?
The Scale Has Changed
The Opportunity – and the Tradeoffs
POTENTIAL BENEFITS
• Private Investment
• Property Tax Revenue
• Utility Revenue
• Construction Employment
• Infrastructure Investment
COMMUNITY CONSIDERATIONS
• Electric Capacity
• Water
• Land
• Noise
• Infrastructure Cost
• Permanent Employment
Electricity Changes the Conversation
The Utility Must Answer:
How much load?
When does it arrive?
How quickly does it ramp?
What infrastructure is required?
Who pays?
What reliability is requested?
What happens if the project doesn't
materialize?
Resource Impacts Depend on Design
Two identical-looking data centers can have very different community impacts.
Location Matters
The same project may be appropriate on one site and not on another. Considering noise, setbacks, building scale, mechanical equipment, and proximity to residential.
Investment ≠ Employment
HIGH CAPITAL INTENSITY VS LOW EMPLOYMENT DENSITY
Data centers can represent extraordinary capital investment, but they don't necessarily generate the permanent employment associated with other uses occupying comparable acreage.
What does "economic value" mean for your community?
Is it:
jobs?
assessed value?
utility revenue?
construction activity?
infrastructure?
technology investment?
some combination?
Infrastructure Risk Must Be Addressed
What Communities Can Do Before a Project Arrives
Don’t Wait for an Application!
Establish Expectations for:
• Land Use
• Utility Service
• Water
• Noise
• Backup Power
• Infrastructure Coordination
Policy Approaches Spectrum
Decision Making Framework
Seven Questions Before Saying Yes
1. Where?
Is the location appropriate?
2. How big?
What is the actual phased load and development scale?
3. Can we serve it?
Electricity, water, roads, telecommunications, emergency services.
4. Who pays?
Are infrastructure costs and financial risks properly allocated?
5. What are the community impacts?
Noise, water, air, visual impacts and surrounding uses.
6. What does the community receive?
Jobs, investment, tax revenues, utility revenues and other benefits.
7. What happens over 20–30 years?
Does the project align with long-term community and infrastructure plans? Key Take-Aways
Questions,
Comments,
Recommendations?
Jason Niccoli
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 951-413-3500