Data Centers

Rural Wisconsin has become a hotspot for data centers. State’s unique tax instrument explains why

Concerns over transparency, tax policy, and data centers’ utility usage drive many rural residents to oppose planned developments.

Bill to provide tax breaks for data centers reintroduced by Colorado lawmakers

The bill would offer a 100% sales and use tax exemption for qualified data centers for at least 20 years.

Outrage over surge of data centers in Georgia inspires wave of bipartisan bills

Proposals call for transparency, elimination of tax perk and more.

Counties wrestle with data centers’ power consumption

A recent survey from the National Association of Counties found that more than half of leaders spend time discussing data centers and other energy-intensive facilities.

Wyoming County approves construction of what could become the largest data center in US

The project could eventually use the same amount of electricity as produced by 10 nuclear power plants, boosting Wyoming’s energy industry while challenging efforts to limit emissions and stressing water supplies.

New Jersey lawmakers OK plan to charge data centers for spiking electric costs

Data centers, which are driving higher electric costs in New Jersey, would face new tariffs under a plan legislators advanced Thursday.

The data center rush in Appalachia

Big tech eyes coal country as AI demand soars, but rural communities push back.

Data center ‘gold rush’ pits local officials’ hunt for new revenue against residents’ concerns

Without state regulations to guide them, Georgia counties are taking vastly different approaches to managing the surge in data center proposals.

In 2026, more data center regulations could be coming in Maryland

It’s likely that large scale data centers, which have a large presence in neighboring Virginia, will make their way to Maryland in greater numbers in the years ahead.

Trio of Michigan Senate Democrats introduce policy to address data center water usage

Environmental and consumer advocacy watchdogs warn these facilities can herald skyrocketing energy rates while harming drinking water access in nearby communities.

Frustrations with data center projects bubble over at Michigan Capitol

Attorney General Dana Nessel and lawmakers call for scrutiny of DTE contracts, an end to tax breaks and stronger protections for local communities.

Data centers for AI could nearly triple San Jose’s energy use. Who foots the bill?

AI’s planned data-center boom is straining California’s grid forecasts and raising fears that customers could pay for upgrades if projects never materialize.

Google data centers will bring nuclear power back to tornado country

A destructive storm in 2020 prematurely shut down Iowa’s only nuclear plant. With Google’s plans to reopen it to power nearby data centers, will extreme weather threaten the reactor’s safety?

Watchdog for electric grid in Ohio, other states wants a pause on data centers

There are more than 200 data centers in Ohio already, and American Electric Power has claimed 30 gigawatts-worth of proposed data center projects want to connect to the grid.

How to make data centers less thirsty

There’s a way to reduce both the climate and water harms of data centers: build them in places with lots of wind and solar energy.

Utilities struggling to deal with data center power demand, report says

Black & Veatch found that more than half of utility leaders said having available power is the biggest challenge to getting data centers online, and that more proactivity is needed in the planning process.

Data center growth drives locals to fight for more say

Higher energy bills, heavy water use and noise are among their concerns.

How government leaders can balance the pros and cons of data center development

Policy and partnerships with tech companies can give state and local leaders a lever to ensure data centers are developed responsibly and sustainable, experts said during a recent webinar.

Most states don’t disclose which companies get data center incentives, report finds

At least 36 states give the subsidies, but only 11 reveal which businesses receive the benefits.

A data center could be coming to an upstate New York town, and residents are speaking out

The town board in Lansing is considering a temporary ban on large-scale development that could delay construction.