Mayors draw up data center rules
A coalition of 108 mayors from 10 states along the Mississippi River has adopted new recommendations for evaluating AI data center projects. These guidelines, unveiled in Natchez, Mississippi, emphasize full disclosure of water and electricity usage by proposed data centers. The initiative aims to help local leaders manage the potential impact of data centers on local resources.
The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative, a coalition comprising 108 mayors from 10 states, has introduced a new framework designed to assist local leaders in assessing proposals from AI data center developers. This comprehensive "playbook" calls for developers to provide full disclosure regarding the anticipated water and electricity consumption of their proposed data center projects.
The recommendations were officially unveiled during the coalition's annual meeting in Natchez, Mississippi. The initiative was prompted by the increasing number of infrastructure proposals, with over 75% of the association's member cities along the river having been approached. The objective is to empower communities to effectively evaluate data center proposals and understand their potential impacts on local resources.