The data centers are. That is all to say: data centers are certainly not automatically good for communities…but they are good when communities make them pay their own way. A data center may require new substations, transmission lines and other expensive grid upgrades that someone must pay for…but who is that someone? Data centers also create technical, high-paying jobs—from electrical and mechanical technicians to network specialists and facility operators. If They Want In, They Pay the PriceThe one thing to keep in mind is that data centers aren’t doing towns a favor.