Building America’s Digital Economy How smart policies can balance economic growth, resource conservation, and community well-being

The white paper explores the rapid growth of data centers as a cornerstone of America’s digital economy, driven by AI, cloud computing, and digital services. While offering significant economic benefits such as job creation and tax revenue, data centers place increasing strain on energy and water resources. The paper highlights the need for smarter cooling technologies, efficient equipment, and sustainable practices to balance performance with environmental impact. It identifies policy gaps, particularly around water use, and calls for standardized regulations, incentives, and transparency. Ultimately, it argues that coordinated policy and innovation are essential to ensure sustainable, long-term growth of digital infrastructure