{ "as_of": "2026-11-10", "selection": "Eight selected US jurisdictions illustrate different decisions. This is not a census or a representative sample of proposals. Missing terms are unknown, never zero. Policy measures have no project-specific financial offer to score.", "sources": { "herm_slides": { "title": "Hermantown: October 19 agreement presentation", "url": "https://hermantownmn.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Data-Center-Agreement-Update-October-2026.pdf", "authority": "municipal presentation", "date": "2026-10-19", "locator": "PDF pages 2–4, 7–13" }, "herm_hub": { "title": "Hermantown project documents and updates", "url": "https://hermantownmn.com/project/", "authority": "municipal project page", "date": "2026-10-22", "locator": "Taxes; agreement updates; acoustic and utility documents" }, "herm_vote": { "title": "MPR: Hermantown approves Google agreements", "url": "https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/10/31/hermantown-approves-controversial-google-data-center-during-late-night-meeting", "authority": "original local reporting", "date": "2026-10-31", "locator": "October 30 vote; remaining electricity review and lawsuits" }, "indy_deck": { "title": "Indy Economic Development: November 4 financial slides", "url": "https://www.indyecondev.com/s/Nov-IEDIDC-Blox-Deck.pdf", "authority": "project sponsor financial presentation", "date": "2026-11-04", "locator": "Slides 9–15, 17, 19, 21–22. Forecasts and proposed terms; phases extend beyond ten calendar years." }, "indy_mirror": { "title": "Mirror Indy: proposed tax and community package", "url": "https://mirrorindy.org/dc-blox-data-center-indy-economic-development-east-side-tax-breaks/", "authority": "original local reporting", "date": "2026-11-06", "locator": "Savings: $8.9m building + $11.6m developer equipment + $92.5m tenant equipment; $113m combined estimate" }, "indy_vote": { "title": "Axios: Indianapolis committee recommends rejection", "url": "https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/11/10/usd113m-data-center-tax-break-fails-key-vote", "authority": "original local reporting", "date": "2026-11-10", "locator": "November 9 committee recommendation; full council pending" }, "indy_company": { "title": "DC BLOX: Indianapolis proposal and commitments", "url": "https://www.dcblox.com/indianapolisdatacenter/", "authority": "developer claims and filed-document links", "date": null, "locator": "Project at a glance; statement of commitments; plan of operation" }, "indy_oct30": { "title": "DC BLOX: October 30 community offer", "url": "https://www.dcblox.com/indycommunity/", "authority": "developer statement", "date": "2026-10-30", "locator": "Earlier nearly $15m package, incentive-contingent; do not mix with November offer" }, "def_hub": { "title": "DeForest: proposal and February 3 annexation vote", "url": "https://www.engagedeforest.com/QTS", "authority": "municipal project record", "date": "2026-02-03", "locator": "February 03 timeline: reject 1,572.5-acre annexation petition, 7–0; $50m proposed pledge" }, "def_jan": { "title": "DeForest: January 27 staff statement", "url": "https://www.deforestwi.gov/m/NewsFlash/Home/Detail/75", "authority": "municipal statement", "date": "2026-01-27", "locator": "Staff recommendation preceded February 3 board vote" }, "arch_vote": { "title": "WVIA: Archbald denies Wildcat Ridge application", "url": "https://www.wesanews.org/environment-energy/2026-11-03/archbald-data-center-denied-council-zoning", "authority": "original local reporting", "date": "2026-11-03", "locator": "October 21 decision; 14 buildings, about 578 acres, 588 proposed backup generators; nine hearings" }, "upper_report": { "title": "Upper Sandusky: proposal and November charter vote", "url": "https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/a-town-of-6-600-people-took-on-a-usd900-million-ai-data-center-and-won-heres-how-they-did-it", "authority": "original interview reporting; election total attributed to local newspaper", "date": "2026-11-08", "locator": "1,893 yes / 568 no, unofficial; proposal withdrawn before vote; city limits only" }, "upper_results": { "title": "Wyandot County: November 3 election results", "url": "https://www.boe.ohio.gov/wyandot/election-info/election-results/", "authority": "county election office", "date": "2026-11-03", "locator": "County election-results index; the charter tally in this comparison is attributed to local reporting." }, "boulder_text": { "title": "Boulder City: ballot explanation and digest", "url": "https://www.bcnv.org/DocumentCenter/View/16416/Ballot-Question-1-Explanation-and-Digest", "authority": "municipal ballot text", "date": null, "locator": "Question 1; Eldorado Valley Transfer Area outside conservation easement" }, "boulder_result": { "title": "Ballotpedia: Boulder City Question 1 result", "url": "https://ballotpedia.org/Boulder_City%2C_Nevada%2C_Question_1%2C_Allow_Data_Centers_in_Eldorado_Valley_Transfer_Area_Measure_%28November_2026%29", "authority": "secondary election aggregation", "date": "2026-11-10", "locator": "2,158 yes / 5,215 no on accessed version; counting remains unofficial" }, "harwood_result": { "title": "Ballotpedia: Harwood industrial review measure", "url": "https://ballotpedia.org/Harwood%2C_North_Dakota%2C_Industrial_Development_Review_Requirements_Initiative_%28November_2026%29", "authority": "secondary election aggregation", "date": "2026-11-04", "locator": "105 yes / 325 no; unofficial, all precincts reporting; additional review, not project permit" }, "harwood_interview": { "title": "WDAY: Harwood mayor discusses review vote", "url": "https://www.wdayradionow.com/news/local-news/harwood-mayor-reveals-millions-in-projected-tax-revenue-for-fargo-public-schools-from-applied-digital-data-center/", "authority": "original interview reporting", "date": "2026-11-07", "locator": "Mayor's economic argument; organizer response; 430 votes" }, "san_city": { "title": "San Marcos: June 16 council recap", "url": "https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/4772/June-16-2026-City-Council-Recap", "authority": "municipal meeting recap", "date": "2026-06-16", "locator": "Item 17: data-center prohibition amendment passed 4–3; broader code update 7–0" }, "san_report": { "title": "Texas Tribune: San Marcos zoning and local powers", "url": "https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/30/texas-san-marcos-data-center-ban-zoning-laws/", "authority": "original reporting", "date": "2026-06-30", "locator": "City limits; distinct county powers; challenges described as prospective" }, "aep": { "title": "AEP Ohio: Data Center Tariff guidance", "url": "https://www.aepohio.com/company/about/rates/data-center-tariff/", "authority": "utility tariff explanation", "date": null, "locator": "Minimum demand; collateral; cancellations; initial term ramp up to four years plus eight. Not project-specific municipal approval." }, "def_fiscal": { "title": "DeForest: January 6 fiscal analysis", "url": "https://www.engagedeforest.com/download_file/view/1164/766", "authority": "municipal financial-adviser projection", "date": "2026-01-06", "locator": "PDF page 1: local property-tax revenue $39,166,596 across revenue years 2028–2041. Forecast, not net benefit or guaranteed payment." }, "def_preannex": { "title": "DeForest: December 18 pre-annexation statement", "url": "https://hdp-us-prod-app-deforest-engage-files.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/4317/6609/5549/Village_of_DeForest_Press_Release_12.18.25.pdf", "authority": "municipal statement", "date": "2025-12-18", "locator": "No financial incentives offered; negotiations and annexation approval explicitly separate." }, "upper_ballot": { "title": "Ballotpedia: Upper Sandusky charter result", "url": "https://ballotpedia.org/Upper_Sandusky%2C_Ohio%2C_Data_Center_Construction_Prohibition_Charter_Amendment_%28November_2026%29", "authority": "secondary election aggregation", "date": "2026-11-04", "locator": "1,893 yes / 568 no; unofficial until certified." } }, "cases": [ { "id": "hermantown", "name": "Hermantown", "state": "Minnesota", "abbr": "MN", "type": "project", "date": "2026-10-30", "action": "Development agreement and special-use permit", "outcome": "approved", "decision": "Local agreements approved", "vote": "Unanimous council approval", "developer": "Google / Harmony Group", "scope": "Major local approvals granted; electricity review and litigation remained separate.", "difference": "A revised financial offer proceeded despite continuing opposition.", "tax": "Local property-tax abatement request withdrawn. City forecast: about $3m/year at full buildout, versus $448k with abatement; same assumed tax rate.", "community": "$130m public infrastructure construction paid by developer, without abatement repayment. Separate school gifts were still being explored.", "power": "At the October 30 local approval, the electric-service agreement still required separate Minnesota PUC action.", "water": "City describes baseline and construction groundwater monitoring, plus an opt-in neighboring-well program within half a mile.", "noise": "Campus reduced from four buildings to three; building height capped at 33 feet.", "jobs": "Final direct operating-job commitment: not reported in the linked sources.", "closure": "City presentation describes $210m Google-backed obligation, indexed to inflation, for 50 years after final completion. Reuse may be approved instead of removal.", "strength": "Revised city-tax forecast exceeds the earlier offer. Developer-funded infrastructure and Google-backed closure duties cover specified public costs.", "open": "Forecast tax receipts depend on buildout and assessment. Site effects, remaining utility action and litigation remain separate questions.", "sources": [ "herm_slides", "herm_hub", "herm_vote" ] }, { "id": "indianapolis", "name": "Indianapolis", "state": "Indiana", "abbr": "IN", "type": "project", "date": "2026-11-09", "action": "Committee review of tax incentives", "outcome": "pending", "decision": "Committee recommends rejection", "vote": "Full council decision pending", "developer": "DC BLOX and future tenants", "scope": "Earlier land-use permission is distinct from the pending financial decision. The committee action is a recommendation.", "difference": "The land-use and incentive decisions reached different stages.", "tax": "Proposed combined savings about $113m: $8.9m buildings, $11.6m developer equipment, $92.5m tenant equipment. Ten-year abatement terms start in different phases.", "community": "November proposal: about $28m taxes during active incentive periods; $28.5m inclusion plan plus $1.5m good-neighbor commitments. Allocations still under negotiation.", "power": "Developer describes energy-cost commitments and AES upgrades. Final customer-specific cost allocation: not reported in the linked sources.", "water": "Sponsor forecasts up to 800,000 gallons of on-site water consumption per year with closed-loop cooling. Actual operating consumption is not yet available.", "noise": "Developer describes sound restrictions and screening in filed commitments. Operating measurements are not yet available.", "jobs": "Sponsor identifies 21 new direct on-site operating jobs; tenant jobs not yet determined. Estimated construction work ramps to a peak of about 600.", "closure": "Final funded closure guarantee: not reported in the linked sources.", "strength": "Public estimates distinguish savings for the developer and future tenants. Additional investment attributable to the incentive remains uncertain.", "open": "Community allocations remain under negotiation. Phased tax totals span more than ten project years.", "sources": [ "indy_deck", "indy_mirror", "indy_vote", "indy_company", "indy_oct30" ] }, { "id": "deforest", "name": "DeForest", "state": "Wisconsin", "abbr": "WI", "type": "project", "date": "2026-02-03", "action": "Annexation petition", "outcome": "denied", "decision": "Annexation denied", "vote": "7–0 village board vote", "developer": "QTS", "scope": "Rejection of a specific 1,572.5-acre annexation petition, followed by cancellation of the February 9 hearing.", "difference": "A substantial community pledge did not secure the requested annexation.", "tax": "Village stated it was offering no financial incentives in December 2025. January fiscal model projected about $39 million in local property taxes across 2028–2041, conditional on buildout and model assumptions; this is revenue before public costs.", "community": "Proposed $50 million community-investment pledge; village sought binding terms before annexation. Delivered payments: not reported.", "power": "Alliant and Wisconsin PSC presentations formed part of review. Final customer-specific cost agreement: not reported.", "water": "Municipal infrastructure assessment was presented. Final approved quantities and remedies: not reported.", "noise": "QTS publicly promised noise mitigation and view buffers; proposed commitments are distinct from operating performance.", "jobs": "Final continuing-job commitment: not reported in the linked municipal sources.", "closure": "Final executed closure-security provision: not reported in the linked sources.", "strength": "A reimbursement agreement covered independent adviser costs during review, before the annexation decision.", "open": "Annexation was denied. Actual operating benefits and costs cannot be measured for the unbuilt proposal.", "sources": [ "def_hub", "def_jan", "def_fiscal", "def_preannex" ] }, { "id": "archbald", "name": "Archbald", "state": "Pennsylvania", "abbr": "PA", "type": "project", "date": "2026-10-21", "action": "Wildcat Ridge conditional-use application", "outcome": "denied", "decision": "Specific application denied", "vote": "Unanimous council denial", "developer": "Cornell Realty Management", "scope": "Application-specific denial; other borough proposals and any later challenge are separate.", "difference": "Nine hearings examined disputed evidence on a proposed site.", "tax": "Final retained-tax and incentive schedule: not reported in the linked sources.", "community": "Executed community-payment schedule: not reported.", "power": "Electricity and cooling claims were examined at hearings. Final utility cost-protection agreement: not reported.", "water": "Water and cooling were among disputed site questions. Final approved operating quantities: not reported.", "noise": "14 proposed buildings, about 578 acres and 588 backup diesel generators. Developer argued compliance; opponents disputed sound and emissions evidence.", "jobs": "Final continuing-job commitment: not reported.", "closure": "Final funded closure-security provision: not reported.", "strength": "Site suitability and ordinance compliance were examined before the council decision.", "open": "Council denied this application. Other borough proposals and any later challenge remain separate.", "sources": [ "arch_vote" ] }, { "id": "upper-sandusky", "name": "Upper Sandusky", "state": "Ohio", "abbr": "OH", "type": "policy", "date": "2026-11-03", "action": "City-charter prohibition above 25MW", "outcome": "restricted", "decision": "Voters favor restriction", "vote": "About 77% yes; unofficial", "developer": "Policy vote; earlier Smartland proposal", "scope": "New data centers above 25MW within city limits. Earlier $900m proposal with 150MW gas plant had been withdrawn.", "difference": "A proposed charter restriction followed an earlier withdrawn development proposal; the vote remains unofficial.", "tax": "Not a vote on a negotiated tax schedule.", "community": "Not a vote on a company-specific payment package.", "power": "25MW is an electrical demand/peak-load threshold; not annual energy consumption.", "water": "No project-specific approved water obligation attached to this policy comparison.", "noise": "No project-specific approved noise remedy attached to this policy comparison.", "jobs": "No approved project employment outcome implied by this charter vote.", "closure": "No project-specific closure guarantee implied.", "strength": "Voters decided the type of use allowed within their city.", "open": "Does not prohibit every data center or development elsewhere in Wyandot County.", "sources": [ "upper_ballot", "upper_report", "upper_results" ], "yes": 1893, "no": 568, "vote_source": "upper_ballot" }, { "id": "boulder-city", "name": "Boulder City", "state": "Nevada", "abbr": "NV", "type": "policy", "date": "2026-11-03", "action": "Allow-use question for specified public land", "outcome": "restricted", "decision": "Voters oppose permission", "vote": "About 71% no; unofficial", "developer": "No company-specific permit on ballot", "scope": "Eldorado Valley Transfer Area outside the conservation easement; not a named project contract.", "difference": "Unofficial results show voters opposed opening the specified area to data centers.", "tax": "Potential lease income was an argument for permission; no project-level tax bargain approved.", "community": "No company-specific community offer in the ballot question.", "power": "Project-specific power demand and contract not applicable to this land-use question.", "water": "Ballot arguments discussed resource concerns; no approved project-specific volume.", "noise": "No approved project-specific operating limit attached to the ballot question.", "jobs": "No delivered project jobs established by this vote.", "closure": "No project-specific security established by this vote.", "strength": "The permitted land use was submitted to voters before any specific offer was compared here.", "open": "Result applies to this authorization; it is not a national or citywide project count.", "sources": [ "boulder_text", "boulder_result" ], "yes": 2158, "no": 5215, "vote_source": "boulder_result" }, { "id": "san-marcos", "name": "San Marcos", "state": "Texas", "abbr": "TX", "type": "policy", "date": "2026-06-16", "action": "Citywide zoning-code amendment", "outcome": "restricted", "decision": "Prohibition adopted", "vote": "4–3 on data-center amendment", "developer": "City land-use policy", "scope": "Data centers made ineligible in all city zoning districts. Broader code update passed 7–0.", "difference": "City zoning powers differ from nearby county powers.", "tax": "No company-specific incentive approved by this code vote.", "community": "No company-specific benefits package attached to this comparison.", "power": "Policy concerned use eligibility; no project-specific service contract established.", "water": "Water and energy concerns informed debate; county and city authority differ.", "noise": "No project-specific operating remedy evaluated here.", "jobs": "No project employment outcome implied by code adoption.", "closure": "No project-specific security established.", "strength": "The city changed use eligibility through its zoning code.", "open": "City limits and any later legal challenge are separate. No assertion of a statewide prohibition.", "sources": [ "san_city", "san_report" ] }, { "id": "harwood", "name": "Harwood", "state": "North Dakota", "abbr": "ND", "type": "policy", "date": "2026-11-03", "action": "Additional industrial-development review", "outcome": "review-rejected", "decision": "Voters reject added review", "vote": "325 no / 105 yes; unofficial", "developer": "Charter policy; Applied Digital context", "scope": "Would add independent review, public access, hearings and findings for qualifying industrial projects.", "difference": "A rejected process amendment is distinct from a vote approving a particular facility.", "tax": "Mayor argued for projected revenue; this ballot did not approve a new tax agreement.", "community": "No new community-payment package approved by the ballot itself.", "power": "Industrial review thresholds are distinct from a power-service approval.", "water": "No new operating water entitlement granted by this vote.", "noise": "No new project-specific operating limits settled by this vote.", "jobs": "Economic-development arguments do not establish realized jobs.", "closure": "No new project security approved by the ballot itself.", "strength": "A useful counterexample to treating every failed ballot measure as a data-center defeat.", "open": "No inference that 76% approved every term of the existing development.", "sources": [ "harwood_result", "harwood_interview" ], "yes": 105, "no": 325, "vote_source": "harwood_result" } ] }