MORRIS COUNTY — Artificial intelligence is transforming the economy, but the massive data centers powering that technology can create serious consequences for the communities where they are built. With its corporate campuses, major highways and proximity to New York City, Morris County could become an attractive location for future data-center development. The U.S. Department of Energy reported that data centers accounted for approximately 4.4 percent of the nation’s electricity use in 2023. Land use is particularly important in Morris County, where commercial areas exist alongside neighborhoods, forests, reservoirs and preserved open space. Artificial intelligence will continue expanding whether or not additional data centers are built in Morris County.