“Data centers’ neighbors weigh in on how to manage them,” co-authored by Saba Siddiki, professor of public administration and international affairs, was published in The Conversation. Following is an excerpt:

Rather than asking whether they supported or opposed specific policies, we presented survey respondents with pairs of policy combinations that combined different policy measures to regulate data centers and asked them which combinations they preferred. Those measures included locations of the centers, placement of power lines, electricity rates, environmental effects, reporting of energy and water usage and requirements for public review before approval.

For instance, a respondent might choose between two combinations. One combination might include power lines being placed underground and data centers being allowed near homes and parks, but environmental impact assessments not being required. The other combination might include above-ground power lines, restrictions on data centers near homes and parks, and a required environmental impact assessment before approval.

Each respondent compared five pairs of combinations. Because the policy measures were varied across combinations, the same option appeared for different respondents alongside many combinations of other policies. This allowed us to statistically separate the influence of each individual option from the rest of the combination. In effect, we could see whether including a particular policy measure made people more or less likely to choose a combination, while averaging across the many combinations of other policies respondents saw. In this way, even though respondents evaluated complete policy combinations rather than individual measures in isolation, we could determine the independent influence of each policy option on their choices.

Our analysis shows that residents most strongly supported policies addressing visible, immediate and tangible results, including requiring new electricity transmission lines to be built underground and restrictions on building data centers near homes, schools and parks. They also strongly support regular reporting of energy and water use.

Our findings also underscore the importance that residents place on having a voice before data center projects are approved. Public participation is ranked second among the six policy provisions in shaping residents’ preferences.