Data Centers Resource Hub
Upcoming Events
Related News
As local authority shapes decisions on permitting, infrastructure planning and community engagement for data centers, this dynamic hub turns ideas into practice across key areas, giving county leaders practical tools to support local decision making around development and long-term economic growth.
NACo’s Data Center Resource Hub provides counties with a collection of strategies and resources to strengthen our approach to data center development and oversight. As local authority shapes decisions on permitting, infrastructure planning and community engagement for data centers, this dynamic hub turns ideas into practice across key areas, giving county leaders practical tools to support local decision making around development and long-term economic growth.
NACo Data Center Webinar Series
County leaders are navigating fast-moving energy and data center issues that can shape local economies, infrastructure and community priorities. NACo’s Rural Energy Academy webinar series gives counties a practical forum to learn from experts, ask questions and exchange insights with peers facing similar opportunities and challenges on the ground. Each session will feature expert presentations, facilitated Q&A and dedicated time for county-to-county discussion. Topics will include the economic considerations of data centers, understanding utility rates and the intersection of water usage and technology.
Economic Considerations for Data Centers: Understanding Revenue, Risk and Long-Term Value
As the first webinar in NACo's Fall Data Center Webinar Series, this session will provide county officials with a foundation for understanding data center development before exploring the fiscal and economic considerations counties face.
Data Center Series: Understanding Electricity Trends
Building on the first webinar in NACo's Fall Data Center Series, this session uses that foundation in data center development and economic considerations to examine how data centers and other factors are reshaping electricity costs nationwide.
Data Center Series: Water Use and Cooling
As the third session in NACo's Data Center Series, this call will focus on understanding water use and cooling of data centers.
Data Centers, the Grid and County Development
At the 2026 NACo Annual Conference & Expo, county leaders and industry experts examined how rapid data center growth is affecting local economies, land use, public revenues and electricity infrastructure. The discussion explored the county role in siting and grid stability, along with the fiscal and community considerations involved in evaluating new data center proposals.
Resource
NACo Informational Primer and County Considerations: Data Centers
This resource provides county elected officials, administrators and planning leaders with a high-level framework to evaluate, permit and oversee data center development. Instead of focusing on technical details, it highlights key challenges across the project lifecycle and offers guidance for steering development toward long-term economic and environmental goals.
Conference
2026 NACo Energy Symposium
County leaders from across the country joined in the Texas Panhandle for the 2026 NACo Energy Symposium. Held September 23-25, 2026, the event offered county officials a unique opportunity to engage with the most pressing issues shaping America today.
Attendees heard from experts, exchanged ideas with peers and gained practical into the policies, projects and partnerships driving the future of energy development. From grid reliability and energy infrastructure to economic development, land use, innovation and community impacts, the symposium equipped county officials with the insights, partnerships and strategies needed to lead in a rapidly changing energy landscape.
Peer Exchange
2026 NACo Data Center Peer Exchange
December 14–16 | Dorchester County, S.C.
Applications for NACo's Data Center Peer Exchange are closed.
Stay tuned for future opportunities through NACo's Rural Energy Academy.
County Spotlights
Data Center Development Recommendations for Local Communities
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
This guide assists local governments navigate data center proposals through zoning tools, benefit agreements and frameworks for evaluating developer commitments.
Data Center Zoning Ordinance
Susquehanna County, Pa.
Susquehanna County’s ordinance provides a local model for data center decommissioning, pairing defined shutdown triggers with enforceable timelines and robust financial assurance. Counties seeking to address long-term liability, stranded infrastructure and site restoration can look to this framework as a baseline for decommissioning requirements.
Data Center Zoning Ordinance
Maricopa County, Ariz.
This city ordinance within Maricopa County, Ariz. establishes a local framework for data center siting and community protection, with extensive noise mitigation requirements and mandatory neighborhood engagement.
For more county resources focused on data centers, as well as access to an information sharing platform for county leaders to discuss local challenges and solutions at work in America’s energy counties, join NACo’s Energy Counties Exchange.
Partner Resources
| Title | Organization | Description |
|---|---|---|
Data Center Fundamentals for Economic Development Districts Staff |
National Association of Development Organizations |
This resource examines the role Economic Development Districts (EDDs) can play in supporting counties and municipalities as they navigate data center projects, including convening regional stakeholders, assisting with zoning regulation clarity and outlining considerations such as property tax revenue and infrastructure demands. It provides an overview for local leaders assessing the economic and infrastructure impacts of data center development. |
Urban Land Institute |
This resource provides strategies for local officials and planners to understand data center development, navigate planning challenges and adapt model zoning guidelines for their jurisdictions. |
|
Climate Mayors |
This collection of case studies highlights how local jurisdictions are navigating data center development within their communities, with considerations including land use, water, noise and more. |
|
Community Strategies to Address Data Center Development and Operation |
American Association for the Advancement of Science and National League of Cities |
This fact sheet outlines zoning, permitting and policy approaches local governments can use to manage the land use and community impacts of data center development and operation. |
Turning the Data Center Boom into Long-Term, Local Prosperity |
Brookings Institute |
This report examines how counties and regions can approach data center development to secure long-term local benefits. |
U.S. Senators introduce bipartisan comprehensive permitting reform package with major county wins
On Sep. 30, the leaders of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (S. 5653), a comprehensive, bipartisan permitting reform package that would make major changes to several federal environmental protection statutes.
Foundations navigate community benefit agreements
Philanthropic organizations offer a specialized approach to managing proceeds from community benefit agreements struck between counties and energy companies.
Texas symposium spurs energy talks
The road to domestic energy independence will be paved and maintained by counties, and more than 100 county leaders came to the Texas panhandle to learn how to make the most of the opportunity.
Public lands offer potential for boosting energy generation
Oil and gas leases on public lands have opened the door for renewables like solar and wind to double dip on energy productions, sweetening the deal for counties.
House reintroduces 988 Implementation Act to strengthen local mental health crisis response
On Sept. 3, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) introduced the 988 Implementation Act (H.R. 10280)[EH2.1] This bipartisan legislation strengthens the nationwide 988 system by providing long-term federal funding to counties, which often serve as frontline administrators of local mental health crisis services.
