1. What is the true long term job impact?• How many permanent full time jobs will exist after construction?• What is the cost per job when tax incentives are included?• Are these jobs accessible to local residents?
2. How much water will the facility use at peak demand?• What cooling method will be used?• Will water withdrawal affect wells, aquifers, farms, or municipal supply?• What happens during drought conditions or heat waves?
3. How much electricity will the data center require?• What percentage of the local grid’s capacity will it consume?• Will residents face higher rates or reduced reliability?• Who pays for grid upgrades?
4. What are the environmental and public health risks?• What emissions, particulates, or chemicals are associated with the facility?• How will backup generators, batteries, and diesel storage be managed?• What monitoring and reporting will be required?
5. What is the emergency response burden on the community?• Can local fire departments handle lithium ion battery fires or electrical fires?• Will the company fund specialized training and equipment?• What is the plan for large scale incidents?
6. What are the noise, vibration, and light impacts?• How loud will cooling towers, fans, and generators be at property lines?• Will the facility operate 24/7?• What mitigation measures are required?
7. What is the lifecycle of the facility?• How long will the data center remain technologically relevant?• What happens if it becomes obsolete or abandoned?• Who is responsible for decommissioning and site restoration?
8. What tax incentives or subsidies are being requested?• How much public money is being offered?• What guarantees exist if the company fails to deliver promised benefits?• Are clawback provisions included?
9. What is the impact on land use and local character?• Is the site near homes, schools, farms, or waterways?• Does the project align with the community’s master plan?• What alternative sites were considered?
10. What transparency and accountability mechanisms are in place?• Will the company disclose water and energy usage annually?• Are environmental monitoring reports public?• Who enforces compliance?
11. What is the opportunity cost?• What other industries or developments could use this land, water, and power?• Does a data center generate more value than those alternatives?• Are we locking ourselves into a low return land use for decades?
12. How does this project serve the community’s long term vision?• Does it strengthen local resilience, stewardship, and economic diversity?• Does it align with community values and environmental priorities?• Who benefits — and who bears the risks?