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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Data Centers

when-natural-gas-cant-move-compute-can

When Natural Gas Can’t Move, Compute Can

Kimberly Graulein, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q1 2026)

How North Dakota’s stranded natural gas can drive AI. More
what-does-site-readiness-really-mean

What Does “Site Readiness” Really Mean?

Kimberly Graulein, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q1 2026)

A roundup of programs—and the consultants who know what they’re worth. More

The Evolving Landscape of AI Infrastructure

(Q1 2026)

AI is reshaping site strategy. This episode explores compressing “Time to First Token,” power-first location decisions, and the execution discipline executives need as data centers scale, faster than real estate cycles. More
40th-annual-corporate-22nd-annual-consultants-site-selection-factors-survey-results-welcome-to-the-n

40th Annual Corporate and 22nd Annual Consultant Site Selection Survey Results

Area Development Research Desk (Q1 2026)

For decades, the bedrock question of corporate site selection was some version of the same calculation: where can we do this most cheaply? That era is not simply fading. According to the results of Area Development's 2026 Annual Survey of Site Selection Consultants, it has ended. Welcome to the new era of operational certainty. More
jll-infrapartners-bet-prefab-can-cut-ai-data-center-timelines-by-up-to-22-months

JLL, InfraPartners Bet Prefab Can Cut AI Data Center Timelines by Up to 22 Months

Kimberly Graulein, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q1 2026)

A new build model overlaps site work and fabrication to accelerate AI infrastructure delivery. More

Potential Energy: Why Power Availability is Driving Site Selection

Georgia Power Economic Development (Q1 2026)

In today’s economic development landscape, power availability is no longer an item on a checklist — it's often the entire list. More
plugging-into-kansas-power-policies-and-people-will-propel-data-centers

Plugging into Kansas: Power, Policies and People Will Propel Data Centers

Kansas Department of Commerce  (Q1 2026)

New nuclear innovation, forward-looking energy policy and workforce alignment position Kansas as a scalable partner for next-generation data center investment. More
2026-data-center-outlook-what-actually-changes-next

2026 Data Center Outlook: What Actually Changes Next

Area Development Research Desk (Q1 2026)

Demand is a given. Power, timelines, and execution are not — and that’s where 2026 decisions are getting made. More

Peek a Boo Data Centers

Kimberly Graulein, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q4 2025)

AI’s power hunger is pushing data centers underground, underwater—and soon into orbit—redefining cooling, reliability, and sustainable energy. More
data-centers-in-2025-when-power-became-the-gatekeeper

Data Centers in 2025: When Power Became the Gatekeeper

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q4 2025)

The era of easy expansion is over—success now depends on early alignment among utilities, governments, and capital. More

Editor's Note: The Year Site Selection Grew Up

Andy Greiner,  Editor, Area Development (Q4 2025)

Energy availability takes center stage as companies compete for grid capacity and rethink growth strategies More
why-utilities-are-becoming-developers

Why Utilities Are Becoming Developers

Puanani Norwood, Managing Partner, Los Angeles Office, BCLP (Q4 2025)

The energy transition is reshaping real estate strategy as utilities and corporations compete for control of generation assets. More
data-center-supply-chains-whats-next-shtml

Around the Horn: Data Center Supply Chains — What's Next?

Area Development Research Desk (Q3 2025)

Area Development magazine caught up with its Q2 guest editors, Ford Graham and Steven Pearce from McGuireWoods consulting, to talk about their reporting on data center supply chains. We also invited Ermengarde Jabir Director of Economic Research at Moody’s to join the discussion. More
electrons-are-the-new-gatekeepers

Electrons Are the New Gatekeepers

Bradley Migdal, Executive Managing Director, Americas Strategic Consulting, Cushman & Wakefield (Q3 2025)

As grid capacity tightens, manufacturers must treat energy as a core site selection filter. More
supply-chain-whiplash-reshapes-cre

Supply Chain Whiplash Reshapes CRE

Gregg Healy, Executive Vice President & Head of Industrial Services – North America, Savills and JC Renshaw, Senior Supply Chain Consultant, Savills (Q3 2025)

Power, ports, and unpredictability are pushing manufacturers to rethink their entire real estate approach. More
powering-the-next-generation-of-projects

Powering the Next Generation of Projects

Larry Gigerich, Executive Managing Director , Ginovus (Q3 2025)

Small modular reactors could help meet surging demand for energy in manufacturing and data centers. More
data-center-demand-stabilizes-amid-changing-market-forces

Data Center Demand Stabilizes Amid Changing Market Forces

Ermengarde Jabir PhD, Director of Economic Research, Moody’s (Q3 2025)

Pre-leasing slows, location criteria evolve, and real estate tax structures face pressure from leaner buildouts. More
from-silicon-to-server-mapping-the-data-center-supply-chain

From Silicon to Server: Mapping the Data Center Supply Chain

W. Ford Graham, Partner, Steven Pearce, VP, Infrastructure and Economic Development, Margaret Rockwell, Counsel at McGuireWoods (Q2 2025)

How suppliers and innovators have powered the explosive growth of America’s data center infrastructure. More
new-rules-for-the-cloud-rush

New Rules for the Cloud Rush

Charles Talbot Nunnally III, Senior Counsel, Nicholas Kemper, Senior Associate, Charlsie Mann, associate in Trusts & Estates and Real Estate at Chamberlain Hrdlicka (Q2 2025)

What developers need to know about how states are regulating data centers—and utilities are shifting the cost burden. More
first-person-david-robey-co-ceo-of-qts-data-centers

First Person: David Robey, Co-CEO of QTS Data Centers

Area Development Research Desk (Q2 2025)

With QTS rapidly scaling to meet hyperscaler and enterprise demand across North America and Europe, Co-CEO David Robey shares his perspective on site selection, utilities, incentives, and what’s next for the industry. Robey, who previously served as COO, brings a tactical mindset to an evolving set of location priorities. More
first-person-joe-capes-ceo-liquidstack

First Person: Joe Capes, CEO, LiquidStack

Area Development Research Desk (Q2 2025)

LiquidStack CEO Joe Capes on choosing Texas for expansion, working through AI supply chain shocks, and why hot water is the future of cooling. More
energy-costs-and-constraints-are-reshaping-site-selection-in-2025

Energy Costs and Constraints Are Reshaping Site Selection in 2025

Grant Miller, Partner, Colliers International (Q2 2025)

Surging energy demands, grid instability, and ESG pressures are changing how companies choose new facility locations. More
facility-deployments-in-a-dynamic-electric-landscape

Facility Deployments in a Dynamic Electric Landscape

Sarah Carnes, Senior Consultant, Enterprise Services and Location Strategy Practice, Deloitte Consulting LLP (Q2 2025)

How companies can adapt to evolving utility policies, secure reliable power, and mitigate risks in a shifting electric landscape. More
is-it-time-to-start-planning-for-quantum-data-centers

Is It Time to Start Planning for Quantum Data Centers?

Lee Walker Helland, Area Development Staff Writer,  (Q1 2025)

It’s looking like a question of when, not if. A look ahead at this emerging technology — and what it means for economic development. More

Unlock Efficiency and Performance in Data Centers

Fred Miller, Project Executive, Gresham Smith (Q1 2025)

Aging data centers face mounting pressures to evolve as 55 percent of facilities are over a decade old. Strategic upgrades can unlock new levels of reliability, scalability, and energy efficiency. More

The Colossus of Memphis: Elon Musk’s Supercomputing Investment Transforms the Region

Garrison Partridge, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q4 2024)

More

Five Strategies to Tackle the Data Center Talent Shortage

Matt Landek, Managing Director, U.S. Data Center Work Dynamics and Project Development and Services Lead, JLL (Q4 2024)

The booming data center industry urgently needs more skilled workers to sustain growth. More

AEP Ohio Proposes Controversial Data Center Rate Hike Amid Power Demand Surge

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q4 2024)

AEP Ohio, the state’s largest power provider, has proposed a controversial new rate structure targeting data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations, prompting strong opposition from tech giants such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta. More

The Impact of the November Election on the Auto Industry: Navigating a Revolutionary Transition

John Rakolta Jr., Chairman, Walbridge (Q3 2024)

Continuation or expansion of current mandates and incentives would accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, while a rollback might provide temporary relief for ICE manufacturers but hinder long-term progress towards cleaner technologies. More

Around the Horn: Getting Power to Projects-A Discussion

Bradley Migdal, Executive Managing Director, Americas Strategic Consulting, Cushman & Wakefield (Q2 2024)

Guest Editor Bradley Migdal leads an illuminating discussion with Karla T. Moran, Manager of Economic Development at Salt River Project, and Coleman Peiffer, Senior Business Attraction Manager at Alliant Energy, exploring infrastructure challenges and solutions for large-scale manufacturing and data center projects. This conversation has been lightly edited for style and space. More

How to Overcome NIMBYism in Data Centers

W. Ford Graham, Senior Vice President, McGuireWoods Consulting and Christopher D. Lloyd, Senior Vice President and Director, Infrastructure and Economic Development, McGuireWoods Consulting (Q2 2024)

A guide to turning community opposition into constructive criticism and assuaging fears about data center development. More

The Bring Your Own Energy (BYOE) Party Is Starting

Courtland Robinson, Director of Business Development, Brasfield & Gorrie (Q2 2024)

America is about to shift to decentralized energy and microgrids in a big, big way. More

Industrial Space Continues Boon for Greater Richmond

Greater Richmond Partnership (Q2 2024)

The region’s advantages — including available industrial real estate, low electric rates, and a strategic location — are drawing manufacturing, distribution, and data center operations to Greater Richmond. More

Manufacturing Momentum Is Building

Brian Gallagher, Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development, PPC Partners, Inc. (Q1 2024)

A desire to bring manufacturing closer to the consumer, recent federal funding initiatives, as well as access to a skilled workforce and reliable power among other advantages have converged to spur growth in construction of U.S. manufacturing facilities. More

Industry in the Era of the Electron

Courtland Robinson, Director of Business Development, Brasfield & Gorrie (Q1 2024)

Growth of the digital economy has put transmission-adjacent properties and the ability to interconnect at the forefront of the site selection process. More

Elite Workforce, Strategic Investments Help Virginia Score Major Wins

Virginia Economic Development Partnership (Q4 2023)

From data centers to vertical farming to banking, a cross-section of industry is continuing to choose to locate and expand in Virginia, a state that provides them with a top-notch workforce. More

In Focus: AI’s Influence on Data Center Growth

Andy Cvengros, Managing Director, Brokerage, JLL and Matt Landek, Managing Director, U.S. Data Center Work Dynamics and Project Development and Services Lead, JLL (Q4 2023)

The use of AI is driving a surge in demand for computing power and the development of more data centers, which, in turn, have an increasing need for reliable power and water. More

The Data Center Odyssey in Mexico

Maribel Gaytán, Strategic Consultant, Cushman & Wakefield (Q4 2023)

Its strategic location, available real estate, and skilled workforce are among the advantages that have made Mexico a hub of data center activity. More

Data Center Sites: What’s Your Connection?

Tom Croteau, Senior Managing Director, Maxis Advisors (Q2 2023)

Those seeking a location for a data center need to consider fiber connectivity, access to power, cooling capabilities, risk mitigation, and security, among key requirements. More

Trends in Data Center Site Selection

Pat Lynch, Executive Managing Director, Data Center Solutions Group (DCSG), CBRE and Josh Ruttner, Senior Research Analyst, Data Center Solutions, CBRE (Q2 2022)

A lack of space and developable land as well as power constraints will continue to drive data center site selection, with sustainability considerations and emerging technologies becoming increasingly important factors. More

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