Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure

DATA CENTERS & DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

PROPOSED / DRAFT — AI DATA-CENTER GROWTH & COMMUNITY PROTECTION

Artificial-intelligence and cloud-computing infrastructure can create jobs, investment, and useful technology, but rapid data-center expansion must not quietly transfer electricity, water, infrastructure, or environmental costs to local residents.

Before approval of a large data center, developers and utilities should disclose projected electricity demand, peak-load effects, water use, backup-generation emissions, transmission needs, construction impacts, and credible plans for conservation and emergency operations. Independent grid and water-capacity studies should be public before major incentives or zoning approvals.

Developers should pay a fair share of new generation, substations, transmission, water, road, and emergency-service costs caused by their projects. Residential customers and existing small businesses should not be forced to subsidize special rates or infrastructure primarily benefiting a private facility.

Local governments should retain meaningful zoning authority, public-hearing requirements, enforceable noise and setback standards, and the ability to protect scarce water supplies. Facilities should prioritize reclaimed water, closed-loop cooling, efficiency, and siting that does not threaten household or agricultural needs.

Tax incentives must disclose their value, expected jobs, wage commitments, infrastructure costs, and public return. Agreements should include performance standards and clawbacks when promised benefits are not delivered.

Utilities and operators should publish periodic resource-use and reliability data, protect cybersecurity and critical infrastructure, and ensure that data-center load can be curtailed or supported during grid emergencies without endangering essential public service.

Related policies: Artificial Intelligence, Synthetic Media & Automated Accounts; Energy; National Cybersecurity Standards & Trusted Personnel; Infrastructure Modernization & Disaster Response.

Status: Proposed / Draft — not yet formally adopted.

Originally published: August 24, 2026.

Last updated: September 25, 2026.

Version: Draft 0.1.