Where to Build: Data-Center Siting Index
The other side of water risk. We rank the major U.S. data-center markets on the three factors that actually decide a build — power (interconnection queue & time-to-energize), water (cooling headroom), and hazard (natural-hazard safety) — from public ISO, USGS, and FEMA data. Higher score = better site.
Top-ranked market in the index
Mount Pleasant, WI — 70.6/100
Strong · power 58.0 · water 84.0 · hazard 72.0
#1 · Mount Pleasant, WI
1 counties · MISO grid
| Power | 58.0 | |
| Water | 84.0 | |
| Hazard | 72.0 |
#2 · Quincy, WA
1 counties · NORTHWEST grid
| Power | 66.0 | |
| Water | 70.4 | |
| Hazard | 78.0 |
#3 · Omaha, NE
1 counties · SPP grid
| Power | 66.0 | |
| Water | 75.0 | |
| Hazard | 60.0 |
#4 · Des Moines, IA
1 counties · MISO grid
| Power | 58.0 | |
| Water | 72.0 | |
| Hazard | 66.0 |
#5 · Council Bluffs, IA
1 counties · MISO grid
| Power | 58.0 | |
| Water | 76.0 | |
| Hazard | 60.0 |
#6 · Columbus, OH
2 counties · PJM grid
| Power | 42.0 | |
| Water | 81.0 | |
| Hazard | 75.0 |
#7 · Hillsboro, OR
2 counties · NORTHWEST grid
| Power | 66.0 | |
| Water | 60.9 | |
| Hazard | 62.5 |
#8 · Umatilla, OR
1 counties · NORTHWEST grid
| Power | 66.0 | |
| Water | 54.2 | |
| Hazard | 70.0 |
#9 · Chicago, IL
1 counties · PJM grid
| Power | 42.0 | |
| Water | 85.0 | |
| Hazard | 58.0 |
#10 · Dallas–Fort Worth, TX
3 counties · ERCOT grid
| Power | 78.0 | |
| Water | 44.3 | |
| Hazard | 53.3 |
#11 · Austin, TX
1 counties · ERCOT grid
| Power | 78.0 | |
| Water | 36.1 | |
| Hazard | 55.0 |
#12 · San Antonio, TX
1 counties · ERCOT grid
| Power | 78.0 | |
| Water | 32.5 | |
| Hazard | 56.0 |
#13 · Nashville, TN
1 counties · TVA grid
| Power | 64.0 | |
| Water | 47.0 | |
| Hazard | 57.0 |
#14 · Atlanta, GA
2 counties · SOUTHEAST grid
| Power | 62.0 | |
| Water | 45.9 | |
| Hazard | 61.5 |
#15 · Northern Virginia (Ashburn)
2 counties · PJM grid
| Power | 42.0 | |
| Water | 58.2 | |
| Hazard | 72.5 |
#16 · Richland Parish, LA
1 counties · MISO grid
| Power | 58.0 | |
| Water | 51.5 | |
| Hazard | 50.0 |
#17 · Abilene, TX
1 counties · ERCOT grid
| Power | 78.0 | |
| Water | 19.8 | |
| Hazard | 55.0 |
#18 · Denver, CO
1 counties · WECC_SW grid
| Power | 60.0 | |
| Water | 31.9 | |
| Hazard | 64.0 |
#19 · Memphis, TN
1 counties · TVA grid
| Power | 64.0 | |
| Water | 36.0 | |
| Hazard | 52.0 |
#20 · Los Lunas, NM
1 counties · WECC_SW grid
| Power | 60.0 | |
| Water | 24.0 | |
| Hazard | 66.0 |
#21 · Reno, NV
2 counties · WECC_SW grid
| Power | 60.0 | |
| Water | 26.4 | |
| Hazard | 56.5 |
#22 · Phoenix, AZ
2 counties · WECC_SW grid
| Power | 60.0 | |
| Water | 25.0 | |
| Hazard | 57.5 |
#23 · Salt Lake City, UT
2 counties · WECC_SW grid
| Power | 60.0 | |
| Water | 21.6 | |
| Hazard | 57.0 |
#24 · Las Vegas, NV
1 counties · WECC_SW grid
| Power | 60.0 | |
| Water | 20.0 | |
| Hazard | 58.0 |
#25 · Santa Clara, CA
1 counties · CAISO grid
| Power | 48.0 | |
| Water | 38.0 | |
| Hazard | 40.0 |
Unlock the full siting report
The index ranks markets for free. The paid report breaks each market down to the county level — per-county power, water, and hazard scores, the specific hazards in play, and established-vs-emerging submarkets — so you can shortlist parcels, not just metros. Leave your email and tell us the market you’re evaluating.