HighlightsNew online tool helps local leaders determine if data centers are right for their community. The Data Center Decision Tool provides a neutral framework. The Iowa Data Center Decision Tool for Counties, Cities, and Communities is a practical, neutral framework that helps communities decide if a data center is right for them. Data center developers face increasing opposition from residents in many communities where they’ve been proposed, putting local leaders between lucrative development opportunities and unhappy constituents. Large energy and water utilities already serve substantial data center demands, signaling a welcoming environment for expanding or building new data centers.