Daniel Farris Shares Insights on AI Data Center Regulation and Development
Foley & Lardner LLP partner Daniel Farris is quoted in Forbes article, “Data Center Moratoriums Show America Built AI Infrastructure Before It Built The Rules,” discussing the factors shaping AI-driven data center development.
Addressing the viability of data center projects, Farris said developers must first ask, “What power is available? What is the rate? What is the grid reliability like?” He underscored this approach, saying, “You can find land. You can build it. You have to be able to power it.”
Farris described the current framework as “a patchwork.” While greater regulatory consistency could improve predictability for developers, he cautioned that additional oversight can be a “double-edged sword” if it simply adds another layer to the approval process.
On transparency surrounding development agreements with local governments, Farris noted that many technology companies are now saying, “We want this all on the record” reflecting a growing emphasis on being viewed as responsible actors.
He also said that developers and hyperscalers are increasingly interested in brownfields and existing industrial sites where zoning and infrastructure may already support intensive uses.
