AI Now Seeks Consultant for Data Center Policy Guides
AI Now is recruiting a consultant to develop data center policy guides for three states, working with Local Progress. The effort extends the organization's existing toolkit by providing state-specific zoning and land-use recommendations. The pilot aims to help local governments respond to the rapid expansion of data centers.
The consultant will work alongside Local Progress to produce guides for three unnamed states, with zoning and land-use recommendations tailored to each jurisdiction. This pilot builds on AI Now's existing North Star Data Center Toolkit, which was developed after collaboration with community groups already fighting data center proposals. The current toolkit has been used across the country but lacks state-specific detail.
The project also involves refining a research template so other states can adapt the approach later. AI Now notes that prior guides in this space were either narrowly focused on single issues or took a less ambitious stance. The pilot may expand to additional states over time, depending on how the initial three-state effort proceeds.
This initiative could influence how local governments respond to data center expansion, which has accelerated alongside AI infrastructure demand. Communities facing zoning decisions may gain clearer policy options, potentially shifting negotiations between municipalities and developers. The state-specific approach may also create a replicable model for other regions, though its impact depends on whether local officials adopt the recommendations. Residents concerned about energy use, water consumption, and land impacts could be most directly affected.