While data centers have been distinct land uses since at least the 1990s, their scale and speed of deployment have exploded in recent years due to cloud computing and the emergence of AI. Hence my keen interest in organizing and moderating an August 2026 webinar called “Promises and Perils of AI: Data Centers, Energy, and Water.” The session, which is available on-demand through the Ohio APA Chapter webcast series, explored the implications of data centers for local communities and how they can manage their impacts. The webinar was co-sponsored by APA’s Smart Cities Interest Group and Water and Planning Network.
The webinar featured three great speakers. First Mike Turner, Vice Chair of the Loudoun County, VA Board of Supervisors, shared research and lessons learned in the community with the greatest concentration of data centers in the world. Mike covered developing trends in the data center landscape, possible future scenarios, and 15 recommended best practices for local communities. Chris Dietz, Critical Infrastructure Analyst with the Idaho National Laboratory, then took a deeper dive into data center infrastructure requirements, impacts, and emerging technologies. Manny Patole, Assistant Professor at NYU’s Tandon Center for Urban Science and Progress, concluded with thoughts on the broader implications of data centers and AI for planners and communities, emphasizing the role of technology in serving people. Links to selected resources on planning for data centers was provided as part of the presentation.
Public sentiment about data centers was captured by a May 2026 Gallup poll that found 71% of Americans opposed to data center construction in their local area – well over the 53% opposed to construction of nuclear power plants. Think about that for a minute – more Americans would rather have a nuclear power plant in their back yard than a data center! Clearly, planners have an important role to play in helping communities navigate the promises and perils of the emerging AI era.