Data Centers Are Hot. But Can Your Site Actually Deliver?

Everyone knows data centers are a booming sector. The question is: Can your site actually deliver? From power planning to zoning alignment to community support, the real challenge is execution.

We’re actively helping cities, utilities, and developers across Northeast Ohio navigate what it truly takes to land a data center project.

Why Northeast Ohio?

Our region is becoming a national contender for data center investment thanks to strong power availability and relatively low-cost electricity, a skilled labor force in trades, construction, and engineering, abundant land at favorable values, and stable utility infrastructure—including expanding fiber, water, and gas networks.

Power Clarity: From Transmission Lines to Phasing Strategy

Proximity to high-voltage transmission lines (345 kV and 138 kV) is a necessary starting point, but you’ll quickly need to get into conceptual and detailed load studies with the power company, helping you answer the big question: can the site meet the power demands you seek? And more specifically, can we phase the power ramp up over time? And what is the true time to break ground?

Community Readiness: Is Your City Actually Ready for This?

These projects can create long-term financial wins for cities—through income tax revenue, capital investment, and infrastructure upgrades. But the key is alignment. Engaging with local officials early to understand zoning, permitting timelines, and community objectives is as important as ever. There’s good and bad information and perceptions about data centers out in the market—you must proactively seek out alignment with the local communities to ensure they understand the benefits like Amazon’s recent data center investment in Columbus. This just reinforces how large-scale projects can bring significant economic impact and overall growth to our communities.

Utility Relationships: Beyond Power

Power steals the show as it relates to data center development, but it’s only part of the equation. Data centers require serious coordination around water and sewer capacity, gas infrastructure (increasingly important for microgrid and backup generation), and fiber connectivity. Gas access can help data center developers bridge the gap in timing for power companies to deliver power to the site.

The data center sector shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Still not convinced?! Just ask Eaton Corporation’s CEO, Craig Arnold—he has made it clear that data centers are here to stay. In Eaton’s latest earnings call, the U.S. data-center construction backlog represents “about seven years of construction at 2024 rates and that the data-center construction build rate doubled between 2023 and 2024. Any notion this market will slow down is simply not consistent with any of the data that we’re seeing.” Further supporting this growth, PwC’s 2025 property outlook reports continued expansion, making it clear that data centers remain a top investment priority.

If you’re a developer, broker, or end user, let’s talk about sites we’ve already vetted and what it takes to go from site to shovel-ready.

If you’re a city or public agency interested in attracting data centers, reach out—we’ll share our market intelligence and insights on how to get these projects done.

For further insights, check out the Cushman & Wakefield Data Center Development Cost Guide here!