Quick Guide: Selecting Suitable Build Sites For Data Centers

Data centers are the backbone of online operations, powering everything from eCommerce and streaming to scientific research and financial systems. As digitalization accelerates, the demand for efficient and strategically located data center sites continues to grow.

In this guide, we explore essential considerations for data center site selection, key criteria to evaluate, and how you can use Acres.com to support your decision-making process with advanced data and mapping tools.

Contents

Key Considerations for Build Sites

• Zoning and Local Regulations
• Utilities and Infrastructure
• Climate and Cooling
• Sustainability
• Market Research

Site Selection Case Study

Key Considerations for Build Sites

Selecting the right site for your data center is critical for ensuring operational efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. Site requirements often vary by region, so it is important to understand local data and regulations.

Zoning and Local Regulations

• Verify that zoning laws permit industrial or data center operations. Zoning maps are often available online from local municipalities.
• Evaluate surrounding land use to avoid sites near sensitive land uses like residential areas, schools, or protected lands to minimize potential conflicts.
• Review local environmental and construction regulations that may impact or limit development.

Getting Started With Acres: With Acres, you can import and map local datasets to help your team assess zoning requirements and environmental regulations as part of your selection criteria without jumping between government websites.

Utilities and Infrastructure

• Identify proximity to power grids and high-capacity fiber optic networks.
• Consider locations near end-users to optimize service quality.
• Locate substations with sufficient energy capacity.
• Confirm reliable access to utilities such as water, power, and internet.

Getting Started With Acres: The Acres Layer Library helps you identify proximity to essential utilities like transmission lines and substations to locate key infrastructure that will support data center development. 

Climate and Cooling

• Favor cooler climates to reduce HVAC costs.
• Avoid areas prone to natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes.
• Ensure adequate water supply for liquid cooling systems.

Getting Started With Acres: Utilize Acres data to quickly visualize environmental risk, like flood zones or fire perimeters

Sustainability

• Leverage renewable energy sources like solar and wind to minimize carbon footprint.
• Incorporate design strategies to reduce urban heat island effects.

Getting Started With Acres: Acres’ layers reveal renewable resource locations, like solar farms and wind turbines, along with key information about facility capacity.

Market Research

• Target regions with unmet demand or favorable growth conditions for industries reliant on data-intensive applications..
• Analyze the competitive landscape and assess how to differentiate cost, service quality, and location.
• Investigate regions offering grants, financial incentives, or tax breaks for data center projects.

Getting Started With Acres: Acres offers national parcel data alongside nearly endless map layers so you can quickly evaluate a market from one streamlined platform.

Site Selection Case Study 

Successful data centers often prioritize geographic efficiency, access to renewable energy, and proximity to major markets. This success story illustrates what makes a suitable site for a data center project.

Meta- Altoona, Iowa

Meta’s $2.5 billion data center in Altoona thrives thanks to its proximity to wind farms, cooler climate, and central U.S. location. The facility runs on 100% renewable energy and leverages AI to optimize energy consumption and enhance efficiency while minimizing environmental impact.

Meta also invests in local STEM education and workforce development in Altoona, ensuring mutual benefits for the community and its operations.

Altoona's Economic Development Department is dedicated to fostering economic growth within the city. By offering tax incentives, supporting site selection, and providing access to local resources, the city demonstrates its commitment to expanding its business sector.

With its strategic location, municipal support, and emphasis on renewable resources, Meta’s Altoona location minimizes environmental impact, promotes energy efficiency, and creates job opportunities for the surrounding communities.

Final Thoughts

Acres makes it possible to access all the maps and data your team needs for site selection in one platform. Not only does this save time, but our portfolio management features allow you to compare potential locations and track opportunities efficiently across your team.