AI’s power appetite, local pushback driving site selections for data centers

David Rubenstein discusses how the rapid expansion of AI-driven data centers is reshaping site selection, as growing community opposition increasingly influences where projects can be developed. He explains that concerns over energy consumption, water usage, noise and the perceived lack of local economic benefits are prompting developers to place greater emphasis on community engagement and public outreach early in the development process. Rubenstein notes that successful data center projects will require balancing the growing demand for digital infrastructure with local priorities and demonstrating meaningful value to the communities in which they are built.