Data centers don’t have to be a burden on local communities – and can even support them by generating power and repurposing waste heat

Two engineers explain how data center design, construction and operation can help the facilities support their communities.

By: Gregor Henze, University of Colorado Boulder and Sean Shaheen, University of Colorado Boulder, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 21, 2026

Words: 1,070

Last Updated: 3 months, 1 week ago

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By Gregor Henze, University of Colorado Boulder and Sean Shaheen, University of Colorado Boulder

Many consumers – and state policymakers and even utility companies – are worried about the possibility of large numbers of data centers raising electricity demand and power prices.

Those are real concerns, but our engineering research finds that if designed, constructed and operated carefully, data centers can actually help the communities that host them.

On-site energy …

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