Dream.Org and ConservAmerica Release New White Paper on Responsible Data Center Development
The paper outlines voluntary best practices to reduce community opposition and keep critical digital infrastructure projects moving forward
Oakland, California - August 19, 2026 - ConservAmerica and Dream.Org have partnered on a new white paper, Building Better Neighbors: Best Practices for Responsible Data Center Development, which examines the environmental, infrastructure, and community considerations driving local conflict around data center development and calls for developers to implement responsible practices.
Community opposition is now one of the most significant practical obstacles to data center development in the United States, and it is also largely preventable. The white paper identifies voluntary practices that consistently reduce opposition, improve project outcomes, and support continued deployment of critical digital infrastructure.
“We’ve partnered with ConservAmerica to offer up a pragmatic, bipartisan approach to data center development,” says Loralei HoJay, Dream.Org’s Policy Associate. “Data centers can be productive neighbors if developers are able to follow a set of practices that allow for buildout without boxing out communities. From energy usage and affordability, to air quality and land use, to water consumption and transparency, we hope that our research is helpful for policymakers, developers, and community members.”
"America's leadership in artificial intelligence will depend on our ability to responsibly build the infrastructure that powers it," said Jason Solomon, Head of Policy and Government Affairs with ConservAmerica. "As our report demonstrates, many of the barriers to new development can be avoided when communities are engaged early, legitimate concerns are addressed, and responsible practices are adopted voluntarily. The recommendations outlined in this report provide a roadmap for building trust and demonstrating that data centers can be good neighbors. The industry is at an inflection point. By embracing these practices now, industry can help mitigate concerns and keep critical infrastructure projects in the United States moving forward."
Across six areas - energy, air quality, siting, community benefit, water, and transparency - the paper identifies best practices and calls on the industry to adopt these approaches voluntarily, before opposition forces more restrictive outcomes.
To read the full white paper, please visit here.
For media inquiries, please contact Sara Stickney at sara.stickney@dream.org.
ABOUT CONSERVAMERICA
ConservAmerica is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization advancing environmental, conservation, and energy policy around a single conviction: a strong economy, a healthy environment, and thriving American communities are not competing goals.
ABOUT DREAM.ORG
Dream.Org is the leading national nonprofit bringing people together across racial, social, and partisan lines to create a future with freedom, dignity, and opportunity for all. We use a common ground approach to find solutions for America’s toughest problems and make the American dream a reality for everyone. Learn more at dream.org.
