Frequently Asked Questions

Data centers can be very noisy, especially older ones.  However, with great advances the modern data center is relatively quiet, clocking in at around 50dB at property boundaries.  That is comparable to a quiet suburb with ambient noise.  The proposed location of this site is right off Interstate 70 that clocks in around 70-80dB. and will easily be drowned out by interstate noise. The reduction in noise of the modern data center is due to distance, noise capturing technology, building design, and landscaping.  

Source***DOE, Best Practices for Energy Efficient Data Center Design(2011), Uptime Institute, Noise Mitigation Strategies for Data Centers, Caterpillar Sound Attenuation for Generator Sets(2020), ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.9, Liquid Cooling Guidlines for Datacom Equipment Centers.

We understand that water usage is a common concern, and we want to be transparent.

The data center will be designed with efficiency and sustainability in mind. Depending on the cooling system selected, water use can vary — but our goal is to minimize or even eliminate the need for large volumes of water through modern cooling technologies.

Many new data centers, including the one planned here, use air-based or closed-loop cooling systems, which dramatically reduce water consumption compared to older models. Some facilities even use recycled or non-potable water to avoid competing with local drinking water supplies.

To put it in perspective:

• A traditional data center may use as much water as 100–200 homes per day.

• However, many modern facilities — especially in rural or seasonal climates — use zero-water cooling most of the year.

• For comparison, a single 18-hole golf course can use more than 1 million gallons of water per day in summer.

We are committed to working closely with local officials to ensure that our water use is responsible, transparent, and does not place a burden on Knightstown residents or farms.  If anything we look to improve the current waste water and water utility to benefit all Knightstown residents and not add tax or utility costs to them.  

Source***U.S. Dept. of Energy – Best Practices for Data Center Sustainability, Uptime Institute – Global Data Center Survey, 2023, Google Water Stewardship Reports: sustainability.google/projects/water

Yes — the data center will provide both immediate and long-term economic benefits to Knightstown and the surrounding area:

 Construction Phase

• The project will create dozens to hundreds of temporary jobs for local construction workers, electricians, heavy equipment operators, and subcontractors.

• It will also generate spending at local hotels, restaurants, and supply stores during the buildout.

 Permanent Jobs & Local Services

• Once operational, the data center will employ on-site personnel in roles such as IT support, operations, security, and facilities maintenance.

• It will indirectly support additional jobs in cleaning, landscaping, logistics, and equipment servicing.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, data centers create 1.5 indirect jobs for every direct employee, including work for vendors and service providers.

 Increased Local Revenue

• The data center will contribute to local property and business tax revenue, supporting schools, emergency services, roads, and utilities.

• Many communities have seen data centers become top taxpayers in their jurisdictions.

Catalyst for Future Growth

• Data centers often lead to infrastructure improvements (like fiber, broadband, and electrical upgrades) that benefit the wider community.

• These facilities also make towns more attractive for future tech investment and common sense, sustained economic growth.

​

Source***

U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The Economic Impact of Data Centers, 2017
https://www.uschamber.com/assets/archived/images/final_dcenter_report_11_14_17.pdf, Uptime Institute, Data Center Job Creation and the Local Economy, 2022

https://uptimeinstitute.com, Google Data Center Economic Impact Reports

https://economicimpact.google, McKinsey & Company, Digital Infrastructure and Regional Growth, 2023 https://www.mckinsey.com

Data centers do have environmental impacts, mainly through energy use, water consumption, and carbon emissions. However, modern facilities are becoming significantly cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally responsible than ever before.

Energy Use
Data centers run 24/7 to power servers, cooling systems, and backup infrastructure. While this requires energy, many operators now use renewable power sources like wind and solar, and many are actively working toward net-zero carbon emissions.
For example, Google and Microsoft already operate data centers in the U.S. that run on 100% renewable energy.

Water Use
Older facilities may use large volumes of water for cooling. However, newer centers often use air-based cooling, closed-loop water systems, or recycled (non-potable) water to reduce or even eliminate fresh water consumption.
Some modern data centers operate with zero water usage for cooling during much of the year.

Environmental Commitments
The data center industry has become a leader in environmental sustainability, using practices such as:

• Green building design and LEED certification

• Energy-efficient server infrastructure

• Carbon offset programs and sustainability tracking

• On-site battery systems and smart power management

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the industry has improved energy efficiency by over 20% in the last decade, even as demand for cloud services has increased.

What About Knightstown?
The data center planned for Knightstown will follow strict environmental and energy-efficiency standards. This includes:

• Responsible use of energy and water

• Low-emission equipment and practices

• Full compliance with local, state, and federal environmental regulations

Our goal as a community should be to ensure the data center is a responsible long-term neighbor — supporting digital growth while protecting the environment and the resources our community depends on.

​

Source***U.S. Department of Energy – Energy-Efficient Data Centers
https://www.energy.gov, Uptime Institute – Global Data Center Survey 2023
https://uptimeinstitute.com, Google – Environmental Impact & Data Center Reports
https://sustainability.google, Microsoft – Datacenter Sustainability Report 2022
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sustainability