FAQ · This site
Questions about this site
Who runs DataCenterDialog, where its facts come from, how each page is put together, and what the site does with your information.
Questions about data centers themselves? See the data center FAQ.
About the site
What is DataCenterDialog?
One place where anyone can find the facts about data centers, check where each one came from, and hear opposing views. Our slogan is “Sources. Not sides.”
Who runs the site?
Scott Goldman, a technology entrepreneur, author and public company board director, founded it as a personal project. The facts, news and data on the site are compiled solely from public sources, each linked to its original, and are not written by Mr. Goldman.
Is the site for or against data centers?
Neither. The goal is not to tell you what to think, but to make sure that whatever you decide, you have seen the evidence and heard opposing views. On every issue we show the strongest sourced evidence that supporters and skeptics each point to, with the same space, styling and sourcing standard.
What do “supporters” and “skeptics” mean here?
Who pays for the site?
It is a personal project of its founder. The site takes no funding from data center developers or opposition groups, accepts no advertising from any company connected to data centers, and shows no ads.
Our sources
Where do the facts come from?
From original documents: reports, datasets, filings and studies, not articles about them. If we can’t yet find and link the original, we wait to post the figure. Every figure is dated, and each page shows when it was last reviewed.
What do the source labels mean?
Each source is labeled by who produced it: Government, Academic, Industry, Advocacy, News or Community. The label tells you where information came from, not whether it is right. Every type can be accurate, and every type can have interests.
What happens when sources disagree?
We show each estimate with its source rather than choosing one, because choosing would imply a judgment. Where evidence is incomplete, estimated or disputed, a “Still uncertain” note says so.
What if I find a mistake?
Please tell us through the Contact the Founder form, with a link to the original source if you have one. We fix errors and record the change, the date and the reason in a public corrections log; we do not silently edit published facts.
How often is the information updated?
It depends on the page. News is collected four times a day; the Tracker refreshes every night; legislation statuses are checked daily; the Library is checked weekly; and the sources behind the Facts page are checked monthly for new editions.
How each page works
How are news stories chosen?
Four times a day we collect new U.S. data center stories and add up to 10 of the most recent that meet our sourcing standards. Stories are never chosen by viewpoint. Each collection’s note lists what was found and why any story was left out.
How are opinion pieces chosen?
Each week we add one question answered by two published opinion pieces: one representing supporters’ view and one representing skeptics’ view, each chosen to make its strongest case. We link to the originals and don’t endorse either. An original piece is published only alongside a piece representing an opposing view.
How is the Tracker built?
Each night it downloads two public datasets, Epoch AI’s data center dataset and OpenStreetMap, and sorts every site into the same fields. Dots show how much detail a row has; rows rated ●●● are checked by hand against original documents. No one can pay to change how a project appears.
Is the monthly poll scientific?
No. It counts site visitors who choose to vote, so it does not represent any population. Each device can vote once per poll, and questions are written to be neutral.
Can I suggest a story, document, event or opinion piece?
Yes. Use the Contact the Founder form, and include a link to the original report, document or official notice if you can.
Privacy and use
What does the site collect about me?
Very little. There are no ads, ad trackers or accounts. The site counts page views and poll votes without storing your internet address, and if you send a message, we receive only what you choose to write.
Can I quote or share what’s here?
Yes. You’re welcome to quote and share the site’s summaries and charts with credit to DataCenterDialog.com and a link back. Tracker data from Epoch AI and OpenStreetMap stays under those sources’ licenses, and Library documents belong to their publishers.
Is anything here professional advice?
No. Everything on the site is general information, not legal, financial, engineering, health or other professional advice. Check the original sources and consult a qualified professional before making decisions.
Where can I see what has changed on the site?
Every change is listed, newest first, with the date and what changed and why, in Site changes on the About page.