Blog
Data center policy is evolving fast, often behind the headlines. Our research team and guest writers will use this space to explore patterns, issues, and individual case studies drawn directly from the database. These short op-ed style posts dig into what the data shows, what it doesn't, and why it matters for local communities, policymakers, and industry observers alike.
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The State of Data Center Policy in the United States
This article was originally published by Tech Policy Press. The DIGS Lab at the University of Virginia reviewed more than 700 federal, state, and local policies related to data centers. While the era of unchecked growth fueled by tax breaks is waning, the new regulatory regime is fragmented, reactive, and heavily contested.
By Lauren Bridges
Project Lead
Date
06/16/2026
Data Center Growth Is Testing the Limits of Public Transparency
How a rural county in Virginia went to court over how much water Google’s proposed data center might use, and what that reveals about transparency in data center development.
By Catarina Coelho Herrera
Policy Researcher
Date
05/12/2026