Learn
Understand the build, then move on it.
Four short primers covering what AI data centers actually are, how they get approved, who's paying for them, and the practical mechanics of participating in local decisions. None of this is technical — it's the working vocabulary local organizers and reporters have asked us for.
Article 1
What is an AI data center?
A 5-minute primer on scale, energy, water, and land use — and why these facilities are different from the data centers of a decade ago.
Article 2
How to participate
Practical guide to public comment, hearings, and contacting officials. Most decisions about data center siting are made at the county or city level — and they're highly responsive to organized constituents.
Article 3
Follow the money
How AI data centers are actually financed — the hyperscalers, the sovereign-wealth funds, the private-equity landlords, and the utility ratepayers who quietly carry the tail risk.
Article 4
Glossary
The terms you'll encounter in news coverage, permit filings, and utility-commission proceedings.