Just about every developer has some “not-in-my-backyard” story when it comes to real estate, from building multifamily affordable housing to constructing large-scale infrastructure projects. However, Airedale by Modine’s recent “Data Center Neighborhood Survey Report” found one CRE type escaping the clutches of community resistance: Data centers.
The report’s key findings noted that:
- 70% of respondents said they were comfortable with a data center placed within a few miles of their homes
- 55% support tax incentives to encourage data center development
- 59% think that data centers are necessary to maintain America’s technology and innovation competitiveness globally
There were some not-so-positive issues aired, including the following:
- Community data center concerns centered around energy consumption and noise pollution
- Respondents wanted to see more community involvement; 62% said that data center owners’ contribution to local initiatives would improve their data center perceptions.
The report acknowledged that public expectations for data centers over the next decade are mixed. On the one hand, 45% of those surveyed think data centers will have a positive community impact, 11% anticipate strong benefits, and 35% expect moderate gains. On the other hand, 37% of those queried indicated there would be no impact at all, with 19% fearing slight or severe negative consequences.
“Given that cooling technology is one of the biggest drivers of power usage, innovations in efficient and sustainable cooling could be a game-changer in shaping how communities perceive the industry’s presence in their backyard,” the report noted.
The report also pointed out that most Americans have some understanding of why data centers matter. When asked about the real estate’s purpose:
- 75% identified the centers’ role in storing and processing digital information
- 59% pointed to their importance in supporting businesses
- 54% said centers were important for securing the IT infrastructure
- 52% said data centers enable internet connectivity
- 48% indicated that data centers were important for cloud computing and artificial intelligence
“This survey underscores a fundamental shift in how people perceive data centers – not as an abstract piece of infrastructure, but as a critical backbone of our digital lives,” said Kimberly Raduenz, Airedale’s Marketing Manager – North American Data Centers, in the report.
Raduenz pointed out that the public supports the role of data centers in internet reliability and global competitiveness. “At the same time, concerns about energy use and environmental impact remain top of mind, making it clear that future expansion must prioritize efficiency and sustainability,” she added.
#NIMBYs #Data #Centers