Milldam Public Relations’ President Adam Waitkunas, serving in his role as a board member of the 7×24 Exchange Southern California Chapter, recently attended the organization’s Data Center Trends event hosted by DPR Construction in Pasadena. The gathering featured in-depth discussions on regional development, power availability, and the evolving design and delivery models shaping the next generation of data centers. Adam joined peers from across the industry to advance dialogue on collaboration between utilities, builders, and […]
Post Tagged with: "data center public relations"
Zoning In
This week’s Zoning In highlights how data center growth is reshaping policy and infrastructure across the U.S. In California, PG&E announced a $73 billion plan to upgrade transmission systems in response to rising data center electricity demand. In Maryland, a coalition of environmental and land use groups formed to coordinate responses and provide resources to communities evaluating new projects. Meanwhile, lawsuits, rezoning battles, and moratoria continue from Georgia to Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, while states […]
Zoning In
This week’s Zoning In highlights some of the hottest flashpoints in the national data center debate: township denials in Michigan, strained emergency services in Ohio, calls for public forums in Oregon, a potential moratorium in St. Louis, and environmental justice concerns in Georgia and Alabama. Communities are increasingly framing these projects around issues of water, power, noise, transparency, and equity. At the same time, broader political currents are beginning to converge. On September 20, hundreds […]
Is Private Equity the Next Flashpoint for Data Center Opposition?
Why Developers Must Factor Political Risk Into Community Relations and PR By Adam Waitkunas Private equity has become one of the most important growth drivers in the data center industry. In recent years, a flood of investment capital has fueled record-setting mergers, acquisitions, and development projects as the world races to build the infrastructure powering AI and the cloud. For data center operators and developers, this surge of investment has created extraordinary opportunities. But as […]
Adam Waitkunas Joins Data Center Richness Podcast to Discuss Data Center Community Engagement and Zoning In
Milldam Public Relations President Adam Waitkunas recently joined The Data Center Richness Podcast to discuss Zoning In and one of the industry’s most pressing issues today: the growing wave of community pushback around data centers. In the episode, Adam and host Rich explore why controversies around new data center campuses are accelerating, the local concerns driving this opposition, and how developers can proactively engage with communities to build trust and reshape the narrative. As AI-driven […]
Zoning In
Policy guardrails and public pushback continue to shape where — and whether — data centers get built. This week saw multiple counties and cities consider moratoria or new zoning rules, as residents across the country rally against proposals over their water, energy, and environmental impacts. Meanwhile, developers and economic development boards argue data centers are vital tax generators that can offset residential burdens, even as local leaders seek stronger siting controls and transparency. Prince William […]
Zoning In
Policy guardrails are catching up to AI infrastructure. Georgia proposes new DRI thresholds and disclosures, Pima County expands NDA and environmental review rules, and Virginia’s SCC weighs cost allocation for high-load customers. Communities from Mississippi to Virginia continue to organize, and a new report warns of potential Great Lakes water stress from data centers. Meanwhile, Brazil signals “Redata” incentives to lure renewable-powered builds. Brazil Launching Data Center Incentives Next Month to Woo Big Tech Brazil […]
Zoning In
This week’s lead story: St. Charles, Missouri, has become the first U.S. city to enact a citywide moratorium on data centers. The one-year ban underscores a growing wave of data center community resistance that has already stalled or stopped more than $64 billion in projects across 24 states. At the same time, in Arizona, Project Blue has resurfaced — Beale Infrastructure is pressing ahead in Pima County even after Tucson blocked water access and residents […]
Zoning In
This week’s Zoning In highlights how community opposition is evolving from town halls to the ballot box. In Georgia, a newly formed Political Action Committee is targeting pro–data center commissioners, signaling that opposition groups are sharpening their tools to influence not just projects, but politics itself. Across the country, we also saw projects delayed, withdrawn, or re-zoned amid protests in Virginia, Alabama, Arizona, Indiana, and Missouri. Meanwhile, watchdogs and regulators are weighing in on the […]
Zoning In
From Virginia to Alabama to Delaware, opposition is forcing changes — and sometimes outright cancellations — of major projects. This week’s Zoning In tracks efforts by local leaders, legislators, and residents to demand more transparency, limit environmental impacts, and rewrite zoning codes. Whether it’s grassroots victories in Pittsylvania County or looming policy shifts in Nevada and Maryland, the message is clear: communities want a seat at the table. Massive Virginia data center development drives debate […]




