Good economic development is crucial to every city and town. Several Utah jurisdictions are currently wrestling with whether to welcome new data centers to their communities. Involved decision-makers and community stakeholders should carefully consider all aspects of such proposals to determine whether they truly constitute good economic development.
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One question deserving careful consideration concerns the long-term viability of these facilities. Technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, often transforming industries in ways few anticipated only a decade earlier.
Emerging technologies — including proposals for space-based data centers now being explored by private industry — serve as a reminder that today’s assumptions about computing infrastructure may not remain unchanged for decades. Advocates envision future facilities that could capitalize on virtually unlimited solar energy and the naturally cold environment of space, potentially altering the economics of data storage and processing.
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As technology continues to evolve, communities should carefully consider the expected lifespan, long-term competitiveness and eventual reuse or redevelopment of these facilities, should market conditions change.
Will the data centers we are considering today remain competitive and productive community assets in 10 or 20 years?
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Lewis K. Billings
Provo, Utah