Research Brief: Identifying Priority States for Data Center Regulation

Climate XChange's 50-state analysis identifies 25 states most vulnerable to data center impacts across five areas: greenhouse gas emissions, energy affordability and grid reliability, water stress, and tax and employment outcomes. The brief finds data centers are driving fossil fuel buildout, straining grids, depleting water resources, and costing states more in subsidies than they return in jobs. It recommends state-level policy tools including large load tariffs, clean energy requirements, water efficiency standards, and subsidy reform to protect communities and meet climate goals.