WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new report finds data centers generate billions in local tax revenue, support high-wage jobs, and drive long-term investment in communities across the country.
"Communities that welcome data centers benefit long after construction ends through good-paying careers, new opportunities for local businesses, and revenue that helps support schools, roads, parks, and other local priorities," said Neil Bradley, Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
"The analysis shows that the economic impact of a data center extends far beyond the facility itself," said Curtis Dubay, Chief Economist of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "Construction supports thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity, while ongoing operations create long-term benefits through wages, business spending, and tax revenue."
Key findings include:
- A single mid-sized data center generates nearly $700 million in state GDP and supports more than 5,200 jobs per year during a two-year construction phase.
- A typical 50-megawatt data center supports 740 jobs per year statewide throughout its 20-year operational life. It keeps 750 additional workers engaged in the state labor force and generates $125 million in state personal income annually.
- The industry also provides paying wages that average $119,000 above the national average.
- A mid-sized facility in Dallas County, Texas could generate $174 million in local tax revenue over five years, with comparable gains projected in Prince William County, Virginia ($114 million), Fulton County, Georgia ($111 million), and Franklin County, Ohio ($96 million).
- See a fact sheet on the study here.
- View the full report here.
About the Report
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce conducted the analysis using the REMI PI+ structural economic model, the same tool used by state governments and independent economists to forecast real-world fiscal and economic impacts.
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