The Blueprint

• Developers must prioritize power availability and grid capacity before site selection
• Community concerns over noise, water use and environmental impact
• "Bring your own power” solutions add cost and regulatory complexity
• Transparency and community engagement are critical to project approval

Robert Montejo, a real estate lawyer with Duane Morris who represents data center and energy clients, said data center developers may not fully appreciate the sensitivity of the moment.

“I truly believe we’re at a tipping point…without a shift in the narrative, they risk being the ‘big oil’ of the digital age,” he said in an interview.

Shifting that narrative, Montejo said, requires a proactive approach to development that balances discretion and transparency. Successful data center projects tend to position themselves as longterm infrastructure assets that benefit entire communities — even regions — rather than just the parties to the transaction itself, he added.[...]

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