Close Menu
    Turning the data center boom into long-term, local prosperity
    Futurology

    Turning the data center boom into long-term, local prosperity

    View 6 Comments

    6 Comments

    1. squintamongdablind on

      This recent study from the Brookings Institution examines how local governments can transition from the standard data center development model toward strategies that foster long-term regional prosperity. While these facilities historically provided only temporary construction jobs, the current AI-driven demand for land and power grants municipalities new leverage to negotiate for substantive tech ecosystems. The authors have proposed a “playbook” where regions trade infrastructure access for co-investment opportunities, academic research partnerships, and shared wealth models. By integrating data centers into local innovation hubs and energy testbeds, communities can transform isolated industrial sites into engines for high-value economic growth. Ultimately, the study argues that states must move beyond passive tax collection to demand collaborative partnerships that align with their specific industry strengths.

    2. dumpgubblin on

      I think this is a good idea, if data centers must be forced on communities.

      My question is: why would a company agree? The current model gives them the free resources (taxpayer funded construction assistance, tax breaks from state/local govt, energy costs disbursed to citizens to lessen load on the company) and it costs companies $0 in local investments to receive those benefits. Why would a company agree to a deal where they have to give in order to receive, when they can just receive?

    4. Geanu12 on

      With the insane amount of environmental damages and economic damages for the locals i’d say any datacenter is terrible for them and should be actively refused.

      Rings distinctly of those old refinery ads about how it’s good for small town america then everyone drinking the local water loses teeth and hair before they get cancer and organ failure.

    5. SlinkyRaccoons on

      Just voted to block one of these hoovering up energy and water in Scotland. A rare win for the power of protesting. There is never any win for our communities, these companies don’t give a shit about you.

    6. sundler on

      >leverage to negotiate… move beyond passive tax collection

      What leverage would a local government have over a trillion dollar, global tech giant?