Jurisdictions
Two views of US locations on the WaterMark platform. Track mode lists communities currently evaluating proposed data center projects — assessments, regulatory status, community context. Promote mode lists jurisdictions, EDOs, and utilities actively recruiting data center investment with published incentive packages and welcome terms. Both modes draw from the same underlying data and methodology.
Track Mode — Active Project Communities
Communities WaterMark is actively assessing or watching. Driven by active regulatory windows (moratoriums expiring, permits pending), water stress, and organized community engagement.
| Jurisdiction | Water Stress | Key Issue | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Brightseat Tech Park — 820 MW, Lerner Enterprises. WSSC Water / Potomac River.
|
High (3.4/5) | Moratorium extended to June 30, 2026 (EO of April 23). CB-19-2026 site-plan-review bill pending. 20,000+ signature petition. | Active |
|
Pima County, AZ (Tucson)
Tucson Water / Colorado River + CAP. "Not one drop for data" coalition. Severe drought.
|
Ext. High (4.2/5) | Colorado River allocation cuts. Groundwater overdraft. Active community opposition. | In Development |
|
Hermantown, MN (Duluth)
Google "Project Loon" — 400+ MW. 51 wetlands, Brook Trout streams. Small utility system.
|
Low (1.2/5) | Facility scale vs. municipal capacity mismatch. 4.2 MGD system facing 400+ MW demand. | In Development |
|
Chandler, AZ
Major data center cluster (Microsoft, Intel, CyrusOne). Salt River Project / CAP.
|
High (3.9/5) | Concentrated data center corridor. Reclaimed water usage. Desert water scarcity. | In Development |
|
Loudoun County, VA
"Data Center Alley" — largest concentration in the world. Loudoun Water / Potomac + Goose Creek.
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High (3.4/5) | Cumulative impact of 100+ facilities. Shared Potomac basin stress with PG County. | In Development |
Promote Mode — Jurisdiction Welcome Listings
Jurisdictions, utilities, and EDOs that have published their welcome packages — incentives, water/power offerings, permitting timelines, and named contacts. Listings are opt-in and editorially curated; WaterMark verifies that incentive program citations link to public state or local code references. Listing here is free and does not affect Siting Matrix scores or imply WaterMark endorsement. To list your jurisdiction, see the form below.
| Jurisdiction | State DC tax exemption | Local incentives | Water offering | Power | Permitting | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pottawattamie County, IA Flagship
Council Bluffs — Google + Meta cluster. Composite 69.
|
Yes — IA Code §423.3(95) | Local TIF + property tax abatements; predictable enterprise zone. | Council Bluffs Water Works — industrial tier; reclaimed available on request. | MidAmerican Energy (mostly wind); ~6 mo interconnect. | Estimated 9–12 mo from site control to permit issuance. | Council Bluffs ED |
|
Des Moines — Microsoft + Apple campuses. Composite 67.
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Yes — IA Code §423.3(95) | State + local property abatements. | Des Moines Water Works — industrial tier; long-term contracts available. | MidAmerican wind; transmission solid in central IA. | ~12 mo | Greater DSM Partnership |
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Microsoft / Yahoo cluster. BPA hydro. Composite 73.
|
Conditional — RCW 82.08.986 sales tax exemption with renewable + employment thresholds | Grant PUD industrial rate; no local property abatement. | Grant PUD — Columbia River source; ample headroom. | BPA hydro — among lowest $/MWh in CONUS. | ~6–9 mo for greenfield with PUD coordination | Grant County EDC |
|
Richmond metro — emerging market alternative to NoVA. Composite 54.
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Yes — VA Code §58.1-609.3 | Henrico Industrial Authority grants; performance-based incentives. | Henrico DPU — James River source; substantial headroom vs. NoVA. | Dominion Energy — Richmond zone has capacity. | Permits often 6–9 mo with EDA support. | Henrico EDA |
|
Microsoft cluster. Rural; abundant water; transmission-constrained. Composite 53.
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Yes — VA Code §58.1-609.3 | Local property tax phase-in; tobacco region commission grants for rural. | Roanoke River Service Authority — abundant rural supply. | Dominion / Mecklenburg Electric — transmission build-out underway. | ~12 mo | Mecklenburg EDA |
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TVA grid; aggressive recruitment; high summer wet-bulb is a cooling consideration. Composite 60.
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Yes — TN DC sales-tax exemption | Metro Nashville performance grants; PILOT agreements available. | Metro Water Services — Cumberland River; capacity available. | TVA — multiple generation types; usually clear queue. | ~9–12 mo | Nashville Chamber |
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Intel fab + AWS / Google / Meta clusters. Aquifer pressure from Intel. Composite 53.
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Yes — OH DC sales-tax exemption | JobsOhio packages; New Albany Business Park infrastructure pre-built. | Aldrich aquifer + Licking County Water; transmission line in progress. | PJM AEP zone — transmission build-out in progress. | Site-pad ready in New Albany Business Park; ~6 mo expedited. | JobsOhio |
|
Umatilla County, OR (Hermiston / Boardman)
AWS cluster; BPA hydro; OR Enterprise Zone. Composite 70.
|
Conditional — OR Strategic Investment Program / Long-term Rural Enterprise Zone | 15-year property tax abatement (Enterprise Zone) with employment terms. | Umatilla County rural water + Columbia River. | BPA hydro + onsite renewables (Wheatridge). | ~9 mo with EZ pre-certification. | Umatilla County |
All listings show publicly available information. Citations link to state code, county economic development pages, or utility tariff documents. WaterMark does not receive compensation for listings. To add or correct your jurisdiction's listing, use the form below.
Request an Assessment or List Your Jurisdiction
Two reasons to use this form:
How We Select Jurisdictions
WaterMark prioritizes assessments based on urgency, data availability, and community need:
- Active regulatory window — moratoriums expiring, permits pending, public comment periods open
- Water stress — WRI Aqueduct baseline stress ≥ 3.0/5, or small utility systems where facility demand exceeds 5% of system capacity
- Community engagement — organized opposition or advocacy groups who will use the assessment in policy discussions
- Data availability — public utility capacity figures, rate schedules, and grid region data to support sourced estimates
- Environmental justice — disproportionate siting in low-income or minority communities