At the APC meeting, the developer mentioned that data center demand may be coming regardless. That perspective helped me step back and consider how we should proactively define protections for our community.
If demand is coming regardless, then it’s even more important that our community defines the conditions under which it would be acceptable.
I’ve been looking at this through a simple risk-management lens.
Every major decision carries risk. The goal isn’t to try to end all of it. It’s to protect what matters to all of us the most.
Large organizations often run top-down. That’s necessary for managing big infrastructure and regulation.
But impacts are felt bottom-up by residents, small businesses, farmers, and those living near our land and water.
Models are built on projections and averages. Communities live with real-world variability.
Our assets:
• Residents
• Rate stability
• Our water, land and wildlife
• Local businesses
Possible risks:
• Stranded infrastructure
• Cost shifts to ratepayers
• Environmental strain
• Scale that outpaces our community
Current vulnerability:
• Vague contract details
• Unclear cost allocation
• Big projections without firm commitments
So, what are the controls?
• Binding agreements
• Phased approvals tied to verified demand
• Financial guarantees
• Clear environmental safeguards
Residual risk will always exist. That’s normal.
But permanent infrastructure should come with permanent protection, and what works on paper should also work on the ground.