Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • A data center is a secure facility that houses sophisticated computers and/or servers that process, access, and store digital information, which is more commonly referred to as the “cloud.”

    Data Centers enable online commerce, financial services, health care, national security, military, and a variety of other essential services. For example, every time you:

    • Send an email

    • Watch a movie online

    • Use GPS on your phone

    • Use online banking

    • Use artificial intelligence tools

    …the information is processed in and by a data center.

  • Data centers power services that people and our communities rely on every day, including:

    • Internet services and websites

    • Artificial intelligence and advanced computing

    • Financial systems and banking

    • Medical data and healthcare systems

    • Cloud storage for businesses and individuals

    • Weather forecasting and scientific research

    As technology grows, more data centers are needed to support these services.

    1.     Data Centers require more robust underground and above-ground infrastructure.

    2.     Unlike warehouses and factories, Data Centers may have external electrical and mechanical equipment.

    3.     Data Centers have system designs and strategic buildings containing noise generating equipment that can alleviate potential noise concerns.

    • In addition to strategic building design and sound attenuators, vegetation and buffering of noise sources from neighboring uses assist to alleviate noise concerns outside of property boundaries.

    1.     Data Centers are designed with robust fire detection and suppression systems.

    • Traditional sprinklers provide building protection.

    • Advanced gas suppression systems protect equipment and batteries for Uninterruptible Protection System (UPS) applications include multiple safety features.

    • Battery management systems monitor voltage, temperature, and current.

    • Fuel tanks for backup generators are typically stored in separate, fire-rated enclosures, and secondary containment systems are used to prevent fuel spills and leaks.

    1.     Data Centers require more security measures than industrial buildings, including 24/7/365 surveillance and controlled access points.

    • Data Center campuses have extensive security measures and strict protocols for employees and visitors.

  • DeSoto County has a proud rural heritage centered around agriculture, ranching, and rodeo culture. DCIP’s goal is to build a facility that respects and is compatible with the character, not change it.

    1.     Data Centers are more compatible with other common (e.g., residential and commercial) land uses, unlike factories or warehouses, they are odorless and lack truck traffic. 

    2.     Data Centers are often taller than traditional single-story warehouses. 

    • Single-story facilities can go up to 30 feet (9.1 meters) and multi-story facilities go up from there.

    3.     Unlike warehouse and industrial uses, Data Centers require fewer employees, having minimal long-term impacts on traffic, schools, and public services.

    • Unlike many types of large developments, a data center does not bring large numbers of new residents or heavy daily traffic into the community.

    •  We estimate fewer than 150 full-time jobs. For comparison:

    a. A large distribution warehouse may employ 500–1,000 workers

    b. A residential subdivision could bring thousands of new residents

    c. A tourist destination can bring constant outside traffic

    This means the project can provide economic benefits without dramatically changing the way the community feels or functions.

    Designed to blend into the landscape - The buildings will be designed to fit visually with the surrounding rural environment as much as possible. This can include:

    • Landscaping and tree buffers

    • Large setbacks from roads

    • Neutral building colors

    • Low-profile structures where possible

    • Minimal lighting directed away from neighboring properties

    These measures help ensure the facility does not dominate the surrounding landscape.

    Data centers are also much quieter and lower traffic than many industrial operations. There are:

    • No constant truck deliveries

    • No manufacturing activity

    • No large customer traffic

    Most days the facility operates quietly with only limited employees and maintenance traffic.

    Supporting the community without changing it

    The goal of this project is to support DeSoto County’s future while respecting its past. Providing:

    • New tax revenue for schools and roads

    • High-quality local jobs

    • Long-term economic stability

    All while maintaining the rural identity and culture that makes DeSoto County special.

  • The project is expected to bring several long-term benefits:

    1. Increased local tax revenue

    2. Data centers represent major capital investments. That investment increases the tax base, which helps support:

    • Schools

    • Roads

    • Emergency services

    • Public infrastructure

  • The Project will have temporary (construction) and permanent (operational) employment opportunities. DCIP have taken a very conservative approach to estimated jobs for the Project.

    1. DCIP projections currently estimate fewer than 150 direct jobs.

    2. New high-paying jobs; positions that typically pay well above average wages for rural counties.

      •  Technicians

      • Electricians

      • Engineers

      • Security staff

      • Maintenance crews

      • IT specialists

    In addition to direct jobs, there will also be:

    • Construction jobs

    • Local service jobs

    • Vendor and contractor opportunities

    These secondary jobs often create significant economic benefits in the community.

  • The Project will be powered by modern natural gas generation.

    Natural gas is widely considered and is one of the cleanest and most efficient fossil fuels available today. Use of natural gas produces significantly lower emissions compared to older power sources such as coal.

    Natural gas is also:

    • Abundant in the United States

    • Reliable

    • Able to provide constant power needed for computing infrastructure

    Reliable power is essential for the secure operation of data centers.

  • This Project is designed as a Behind-the-Meter (BTM) facility.

    That means the data center generates its own power on-site, instead of drawing electricity from the public power grid.

    This has important benefits:

    • It does not increase demand on the local electrical grid

    • It does not raise electricity rates for residents

    • It avoids adding strain to regional power infrastructure

    Traditional grid-connected data centers can place large demands on utility systems. A BTM design avoids those issues.

    This type of design is increasingly seen as a model for responsible data center development across the United States.

  • No.

    Because the project generates its own electricity behind the meter, it does not compete for electricity from the public grid. This means:

    • It does not increase local demand on utility providers

    • It does not raise electricity prices for residents

    • It does not strain the existing electrical system

  • Advanced design practices in cooling technology allow for reductions in water demands compared to older designs, such as:

    • Use closed-loop cooling systems

    • Recycle water internally

    • Use air cooling in many situations

    Modernized facilities are also designed to reuse/recycle water rather than constantly consuming new water. Water use is a key design consideration, and modern facilities are built to minimize environmental impact.

    In many regions, agricultural activities such as citrus farming use significantly more water per acre than modern data centers. For example:

    • Irrigated agriculture can use millions of gallons of water per acre annually

    • Many modern data centers use far less water due to recycling systems

  • Noise levels from modern facilities are carefully controlled. Both the power plant equipment and the data center cooling systems are designed with noise mitigation in mind.

    Facilities are designed and operated in compliance with applicable state laws and local regulations. In addition, best management practices and mitigation methods can assist in reducing nuisance noise concerns. Noise reduction mechanisms may include:

    • Sound-insulated equipment enclosures

    • Acoustic barriers

    • Strategic building placement

    • Advanced fan and cooling technology

    At the property boundary, noise levels are typically similar to normal background environmental noise.

  • The term “forever chemicals” often refers to a group of materials known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). PFAS are used in thousands of everyday products because they are very stable and resistant to heat, water, and chemicals.

    Examples of common household items that may contain PFAS include:

    • Non-stick cookware

    • Water-resistant clothing

    • Cosmetics and personal care products

    • Food packaging

    • Firefighting foams

    These materials are part of modern manufacturing across many industries.

  • Some cooling and fire-suppression systems used in industrial settings may contain materials related to PFAS chemistry. However, in data centers these materials are typically used in closed systems. This means:

    • The materials are contained inside sealed equipment

    • ·They are not released into the environment

    • ·They are recovered, filtered, and reused

    These systems are designed to operate continuously without discharge. Industrial cooling fluids are often reprocessed and reused many times, similar to how antifreeze is recycled in vehicles.

  • Industrial facilities follow strict handling procedures, including:

    • Closed-loop containment systems

    • Fluid recovery and recycling

    • Environmental monitoring

    • Compliance with state and federal regulations

    These practices ensure materials are handled responsibly and reused safely.

  • Yes. The demand for computing power is growing rapidly due to:

    • Artificial intelligence

    • Cloud computing

    • Digital services

    • Scientific research

    • National infrastructure

    Across the United States, new data center infrastructure is being built to support this growth.

    Projects that generate their own power and minimize strain on public utilities are increasingly seen as a responsible model for future development.