Officials Shift Data Center Strategy to Win Community Support
States are pushing developers to engage communities, improve facility design, and take on infrastructure costs.
WASHINGTON, April 21, 2026 – States are changing how they manage data center growth, pushing developers to engage communities, improve facility design, and take on infrastructure costs, officials said Tuesday at Data Center World.
“It’s a great opportunity if communities can buy in,” said Buddy Rizer, executive director of Loudoun County economic development. Officials stressed early local engagement is critical.
Communities must involve elected officials and stakeholders from the start, Rizer said. “If you don’t have a coalition early on, you are doomed from the start,” he said.
