Data center growth is constrained by energy and water availability: Meeting rising AI-driven demand for data centers requires substantial increases in electricity production and attention to water supply constraints in multiple U.S. regions.

Standard-setting and security needs are central for government data centers: High-security data centers for military and intelligence uses require fast and secure processing, and the AI Action Plan directs DoD and NIST to develop new technical standards for government entities.

Data center counts are uncertain without standardized tracking: Data center inventories vary due to differing definitions and construction stages, and the lack of a central clearing house is cited as a reason to develop a dashboard.