Data Center Site Selection Checklist

By Batu Yetki, founder of Voltane.

Power

Which utility serves the site, and which grid is it on?
How far is the nearest transmission line, and what voltage is it?
How far is the nearest substation? Remember that near is not the same as available.
How busy is the interconnection queue nearby?
Is transmission planned in the area, and when?
What has the utility said, in writing, about megawatts and timing?
What will the request cost up front? In Texas, see the SB 6 calculator.
What is the estimated time to power, and is it a range or a promise?
Is on-site generation part of the plan? If so, where is the fuel?

Public data can answer the distance and queue questions. Capacity and timing come only from the utility and the grid operator.

Land

Is the parcel large enough for buildings, a substation, setbacks and growth?
How big is the largest flat, buildable block?
What is the current use and zoning, if the area is zoned?
Is there road access for construction and heavy equipment?
Who owns it? Use the official county record.
Are there easements, mineral rights or other title issues?

Parcel size, slope and land cover can be screened from public data. Title and local rules need a title company and local counsel.

Water

How will the facility be cooled, and how much water does that need?
Who supplies water, and can they commit to the volume?
Are there drought limits or local rules on large water users?
Where does wastewater go?

Voltane's engine does not cover water supply or water rights. Ask the local water provider and a specialist.

Fiber

Which carriers have fiber near the site?
Are there at least two separate routes?
What is the distance to the network hubs your customers care about?

Voltane's engine does not cover fiber routes or carrier presence. Ask carriers directly or use a fiber data provider.

Risk

Is any part of the site in a FEMA flood zone? If no digital map exists, the answer is unknown, not zero.
Are there mapped wetlands or protected land on or next to the site?
What other natural hazards apply to the region?
How will neighbors and local officials see the project?
What permits are needed, and who issues them?

Mapped flood zones, wetlands and protected land are public. Mapped wetlands are an inventory, not a field delineation.

How to use the checklist

Run the public-data items first across many sites. They are cheap and they remove most candidates. Save the items that need the utility, specialists and site visits for the short list.

Voltane does the first pass for Texas as a service and returns a priced shortlist with a report on each site. See Find me a site. The result is screening only. It is not a site suitability determination.

Questions people ask

What is the first thing to check for a data center site?

Power. Find out which utility serves the site, what grid it is on and what the utility will say about megawatts and timing.

Can public data cover the whole checklist?

No. It covers a first pass on distance to grid, queue activity, land shape, flood zones, wetlands and protected land. Capacity, water, fiber and title need other sources.

Does Voltane check water and fiber?

Not today. Voltane's engine covers power access and land and hazard screening. Water supply and fiber routes are separate checks.

More guides

Need a site, or have one?

Tell us what you need and Voltane finds, reports on and prices candidate sites in ERCOT. Or bring a site you already have for a path-to-power report (by request for now).

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Data center site selection checklist: power, land, water, fiber, risk