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.

The demand for data centers continues to grow as government and tech leaders turn to artificial intelligence to improve daily operations and services. 

But how data centers are developed in communities can significantly impact residents’ lives and policymakers must consider how to responsibly support their expansion, experts warned. 

With the data center industry projected to reach $7 trillion in global investments by 2030, governments and businesses are prioritizing where to allocate resources for data center development efficiently, Kate Stoll, project director at the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues, said during a webinar hosted this week by the Brookings Institution.  

While the data center boom may seem promising for the tech industry ...