Resources · Checklist
Questions to ask when reviewing a data center application
Data center applications are long and technical, and hearings move quickly. This checklist groups the questions that tend to matter most, so councils, commissions and residents can focus their requests for information. None of these questions is for or against a project. They're about getting answers that are complete and can be checked.
How to use it. Ask in writing, before the hearing where possible. Ask for answers in measurable units (megawatts, gallons, decibels, dates). And note which answers are firm commitments and which are estimates.
Project basics
- Who will own the facility, and who will operate it?
- How many buildings and phases are planned, and what is built first?
- What is the total planned capacity, and how much comes in each phase?
- What is committed in this application, and what is only described as possible later?
Power
- What is the expected electrical demand, at opening and at full build-out?
- Which utility will serve the site, and has it confirmed it can?
- What new substations or transmission lines are needed, and who pays for them?
Water and cooling
- What cooling method will be used?
- What is the expected water use, both average and peak, and where will it come from?
- Where does wastewater or cooling discharge go?
- Will water use be metered and reported, and to whom?
Backup generators
- How many generators, what size, and what fuel?
- How much fuel will be stored on site, and how?
- How often will generators be tested, at what times of day, and for how long?
- Which air quality permits are required, and have they been applied for?
Noise
- What noise level is expected at the property line, during the day and at night?
- Was that figure measured or modeled, and by whom?
- What noise controls are planned, and are they commitments?
Site and building
- How tall are the buildings, and how far are they from the nearest homes?
- What screening, landscaping and lighting are planned?
- How much of the site will be paved or built on, and how will stormwater be handled?
Construction
- How long will construction last?
- What truck routes and working hours are proposed?
- Who repairs roads damaged during construction?
Incentives and taxes
- What incentives are being requested: tax increment financing, rebates, abatements or infrastructure?
- Is there a minimum assessment agreement, and at what value?
- What must the developer deliver to receive each incentive, and what happens if it doesn't?
Operations and reporting
- Which operating commitments will be reported, how often, and to whom?
- Who does the city contact about a problem, at any hour?
- How will complaints be logged and answered?
End of life
- What happens to the buildings and equipment if the facility closes?
- Is there a decommissioning plan, and is it backed by a bond or other financial assurance?
Not legal advice. This checklist is a general starting point written by technical consultants, not attorneys. Every project and community is different. Consult your city or county attorney on legal questions about a specific application.