# DT #671  Why Does Everyone Hate Data Centers? A Balanced Look at the Debate

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/develop-this-economic-and-community-development-11879/dt-671-why-does-everyone-hate-data-centers-a-balanced-look-at-the-debate
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/develop-this-economic-and-community-development-11879/dt-671-why-does-everyone-hate-data-centers-a-balanced-look-at-the-debate.md
Podcast: [Develop This: Economic and Community Development](https://stenobird.com/podcast/develop-this-economic-and-community-development-11879)
Published: 2026-08-12T11:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://developthis.libsyn.com/dt-671-why-does-everyone-hate-data-centers-a-balanced-look-at-the-debate
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/developthis/Develop_This_-_Dan_Culhane.mp3?dest-id=679584
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/develop-this-economic-and-community-development-11879/episodes/dt-671-why-does-everyone-hate-data-centers-a-balanced-look-at-the-debate
Duration seconds: 1687

## Resource

Why are data centers generating so much debate in communities across the country? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise sits down with Dan Culhane to kick off a brand-new series exploring one of the most controversial topics in economic development: Why Does Everyone Hate Data Centers? Rather than taking sides, Dan encourages communities to ask better questions before making decisions. He explains why the conversation shouldn't simply be about saying "yes" or "no" to data centers, but about understanding their long-term impacts, evaluating tradeoffs, and ensuring projects create meaningful value for local residents. The discussion explores the economic opportunities data centers can bring, particularly for rural communities, through increased property tax revenue, infrastructure investment, and long-term community partnerships. Dan also addresses many of the concerns surrounding these projects—including electricity demand, water consumption, noise, environmental impacts, and sustainability—and explains how advances in technology and thoughtful planning are helping address many of these challenges. Throughout the conversation, Dan emphasizes the importance of transparency, responsible corporate citizenship, and constructive dialogue between developers, local officials, and community members. Communities that ask informed questions and negotiate from a position of knowledge are better equipped to secure projects that align with their long-term vision. Develop This! is launching a special series titled "Why Does Everyone Hate Data Centers?" featuring perspectives from across the conversation—including developers, community leaders, policymakers, utilities, and economic development professionals. If you'd like to be part of this important discussion as a guest on…

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