As unprecedented demand for data centers poses challenges for energy affordability, grid reliability, and land and water resources, state and local governments must work together to protect their communities from these potential impacts. This work includes designing policies that empower communities to decide whether and how data centers are built, and ensuring this rapid growth does not overwhelm the capacity for clean energy to serve them. The tools available at each level of government are different, but together they have the potential to establish a meaningful, holistic approach to regulating this evolving industry.
Climate XChange, the Model Climate Laws Initiative, the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, and Climate Mayors recently released two complementary resources:
- Model State Law: Creating Low Emissions, Accountability, and New Generation Rules for Infrastructure and Data Center (CLEAN GRID) Act, which focuses on regulating primary and backup power, disclosing emissions impacts, and deeper state-level planning.
- Model Local Law: A Framework for Responsible Data Center Development, which focuses on siting and permitting, operational standards, transparency, and community benefits.
In this webinar, experts across all four partner organizations will share lessons learned from the development of these resources, including the needs of mayors and other local officials, emerging best practices and policy trends at the state level, and how policymakers at each level of government can support each other. Our speakers include:
- Jon Binder, Executive Director at the Model Climate Laws Initiative
- Daniel Metzger, Director of the Cities Climate Law Initiative at the Sabin Center
- Laura Jay, Deputy Director of Climate Mayors
- Kristen Soares, Senior Manager of the State Climate Policy Network at Climate XChange
- Jordan Gerow, Director of Policy and Research at Climate XChange