2026 Data Center Siting Playbook
Data center site selection has fundamentally changed.
Power constraints, water scrutiny, interconnection delays, regulatory complexity, and community opposition now determine whether a project moves forward — or stalls after capital is already deployed.
This playbook gives development teams a structured framework to evaluate feasibility earlier, screen out high-risk sites, and prioritize locations that can actually be built and expanded in 2026 and beyond.
This guide covers:
- Power availability and long-term capacity
- Grid interconnection risk
- Water access and cooling feasibility
- Regulatory and zoning complexity
- Community sentiment and social license