Large data centers can require significant public investment — utility upgrades, transmission improvements, roads, and other supporting infrastructure — while generating comparatively few permanent jobs relative to those demands.
Communities should understand the full cost picture, including any incentives, before committing.
Why It Matters
- Large developments may require utility upgrades, transmission improvements, roads, and other public infrastructure.
- Grid and water system upgrades can be shared across ratepayers and taxpayers.
- Tax incentives can reduce the public revenue a project actually delivers.
- These facilities often create comparatively few permanent employment opportunities relative to their footprint and resource demands.
Counties should weigh the true public costs and benefits — not just the promises — before approving a facility.