Developing a Data Center Policy

This report gives communities the resources they need to strengthen their position as they consider data center development. Focusing on community engagement, siting, and identifying community priorities before negotiations with data companies begin, this framework also provides sample ordinances and risk instrument templates that can help communities protect their interests—and derive benefits for their residents—when they decide to allow data center development.

Related Resources

Developing a Data Center Policy: Sample Zoning Ordinances
This document outlines the elements of a zoning ordinance designed to address data center development and includes examples of how counties, cities, and towns across the United States have approached and phrased each element in their own ordinances. This information is not intended to serve as or substitute for legal or other professional advice.

Developing a Data Center Policy: Risk Instrument Templates
This resource includes illustrative agreement templates and preliminary fact-gathering forms intended to help municipal representatives organize information and facilitate discussions about risk with product providers, counterparties, and professional advisors. This information is not intended to serve as or substitute for legal or other professional advice.

Developing a Data Center Policy: Community Benefit Agreement Terms
This resource includes an overview of the terms reached in community benefit agreements (CBAs) between data center developers and the cities of St. Louis, Missouri, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The agreements cover areas ranging from tax incentives to noise abatement. This information is not intended to serve as or substitute for legal or other professional advice.