What factors influence where data centers are built?

Industry site-selection guides generally identify five constraints: access to reliable electricity, redundant fiber connectivity, abundant resources, permittable land and zoning, and a receptive regulatory and community environment. Power has become the single most important consideration.

Beyond utilities, developers weigh proximity to major internet exchange points, climate (cooler regions reduce cooling costs), state and local tax treatment, and increasingly, community sentiment and permitting risk.

Northwest Indiana has become attractive because of its proximity to Chicago, existing industrial infrastructure, cooler Great Lakes climate, and strong workforce.