By ending ‘by right’ zoning approval and stringently regulating energy and water use, communities can avoid or limit potential damage. Prohibiting construction ‘by right’ gives municipal governments the full ability to approve or deny data centers in their communities and gives them leverage in negotiations with developers. Local governments can also ban data centers entirely. Impacts of any data centers that are permitted can be reduced by mandating clean energy use, requiring greater energy efficiency, protections for utility ratepayers from higher energy costs, and water conservation. 

Additional measures include prohibiting non-disclosure agreements to ensure transparency and proactively drafting community benefit agreements to maximize investment in the surrounding community from data center development.