Civic Learning Session: Data Centers, the Digital Economy & Local Job Creation

This session offers a grounding in what data centers are and how they function, the trade-offs of hosting them, and key utility and grid considerations. It covers the state policies and incentives shaping where and how data centers are built, environmental regulations and infrastructure demands, and zoning recommendations for local governments. The session then turns to community benefit agreements (CBAs). Attendees will learn what a CBA is, what to consider before entering one, what can and cannot be negotiated with developers, and how to tell whether an agreement actually has teeth.