Dangerous Thoughts

Master Demand Checklist

Every demand in the handbook in one place — 84 numbered demands across Parts 2–8, plus the Part 1 readiness check.

Part 1 — Negotiation-Readiness Check

  • Know total MW load and water demand at full buildout, in writing
  • Identify hyperscale vs colocation, and the ultimate operator and end user
  • Commission an independent fiscal and environmental analysis, developer-funded, community-controlled
  • Assemble a coalition with negotiators at the table — not just the city attorney
  • Know your state’s CBA authority, large-load-tariff status, and preemption landscape
  • Map your veto points (rezoning? CUP? water service? air permit?) and the developer’s clock
  • Agree internally on walk-away conditions before negotiating

Part 2 — Energy & Ratepayer Protection

  • 1. Full incremental cost allocation (the cost-causer pays)
  • 2. Developer-funded grid infrastructure, with ratepayer indemnity
  • 3. Minimum contract term (12–15 years)
  • 4. Minimum take / minimum monthly bill (80–85%)
  • 5. Exit fees with teeth
  • 6. Collateral, creditworthiness, and a parental guaranty ($1.5M/MW)
  • 7. Non-refundable study deposits ($100k–$250k)
  • 8. Defined load-ramp schedules (4–5 years)
  • 9. Capital-plan true-down when phantom load evaporates
  • 10. No induced fossil generation; clean-energy sourcing
  • 11. Demand flexibility and curtailment obligations
  • 12. Rules for behind-the-meter and backup generation
  • 13. Interconnection transparency: the public queue + 6-month studies
  • 14. Efficiency standards (PUE cap), public reporting, audit rights
  • 15. Standing: PUC intervention + developer tariff support

Part 3 — Water

  • 1. Metered, public disclosure of actual use — no trade-secret shield
  • 2. A hard cap at full buildout, with penalties and a re-opener
  • 3. Cooling-technology mandate + binding WUE
  • 4. Reclaimed and non-potable water first (≥50%)
  • 5. Drought priority: the facility curtails before residents do
  • 6. Baseline hydrogeology + permanent monitoring, developer-funded
  • 7. The well-protection presumption and compensation fund
  • 8. Construction-phase water rules (dewatering, blasting, sediment)
  • 9. Discharge: chemistry disclosure, temperature, pretreatment
  • 10. Full-cost pricing and infrastructure; no rate shock
  • 11. Groundwater accounting and no water grabs
  • 12. Standing, enforcement, and the water authority’s seat

Part 4 — Environmental & Quality of Life

  • 1. Independent baseline + predictive noise study, before approval
  • 2. Nighttime dBA limit with a 6 dBA tonal penalty and monitoring
  • 3. Engineering controls and quiet equipment as conditions
  • 4. Permit all generation; close the “nonroad/temporary” loophole
  • 5. Generator caps, run-hour limits, daytime-only testing, Tier 4
  • 6. Independent fenceline air monitoring + community study funding
  • 7. Cumulative-impact and environmental-justice assessment
  • 8. Setbacks (500–1,500 ft) sized to the noise modeling
  • 9. Dark-sky lighting standards
  • 10. Massing, height, and viewshed treatment
  • 11. A binding construction-management plan
  • 12. Property-value protection for the nearest neighbors
  • 13. Standing, advisory board, and a curtailment remedy

Part 5 — Fiscal Terms

  • 1. An independent net-fiscal study, developer-funded, before any vote
  • 2. No blank-check abatement; scale incentive to verified net benefit
  • 3. Performance-based clawbacks, tied to investment and operating years
  • 4. No incentive stacking; condition state breaks on local consent
  • 5. Tax the equipment; protect the renewing base
  • 6. Full public disclosure of every incentive
  • 7. A decommissioning bond sized to net cost
  • 8. Sunset clauses and periodic review on every abatement
  • 9. Full recovery of public-service costs (incl. battery/electrical fire EMS)
  • 10. Community benefit commensurate with impact
  • 11. Anti-shell-LLC: parental guaranty on all fiscal obligations
  • 12. Standing, audit rights, and annual public true-up

Part 6 — Jobs & Economic Justice

  • 1. Honest, separated job accounting (construction job-months vs permanent FTEs)
  • 2. A permanent FTE commitment with clawbacks
  • 3. Local-hire targets for construction and operations, verified by residency
  • 4. Prevailing wage and a project labor agreement
  • 5. Registered-apprenticeship utilization
  • 6. Fund a local workforce pipeline (community-college academy)
  • 7. Targeted and equitable hiring
  • 8. Job-quality floors and anti-evasion language
  • 9. Local business and supply-chain utilization targets
  • 10. Transparent workforce reporting and audit
  • 11. No public subsidy without enforceable job conditions
  • 12. Standing, a workforce board, and shortfall remedies

Part 7 — Enforcement

  • 1. Binding contract, not an MOU
  • 2. Incorporate the agreement into the development agreement / permit
  • 3. Third-party beneficiary rights for residents
  • 4. Preserved right to sue; injunctive relief (no waiver)
  • 5. Independent, developer-funded, public monitoring + anti-retaliation
  • 6. A graduated remedy ladder with liquidated damages
  • 7. Financial assurance behind the remedies
  • 8. A standing community advisory board with capacity funding
  • 9. Developer bears enforcement and dispute costs
  • 10. Parental guaranty and binding successors/assigns
  • 11. Durability, periodic review, and a living agreement
  • 12. Funded community legal and technical counsel for the negotiation

Part 8 — Process & Organizing

  • 1. A moratorium or pause used to write binding rules
  • 2. Early notification and a real public process
  • 3. A broad, regional coalition at the table
  • 4. Developer-funded community counsel and technical experts
  • 5. Full transparency; defeat the secrecy
  • 6. An agreed walk-away position
  • 7. One integrated, binding agreement
  • 8. Durable engagement for the life of the facility

Companion to the complete handbook. Justification, evidence, benchmark, and venue for each demand appear in the corresponding Part. Model/advocacy reference — not legal advice.

← Two Contracts, One Data Center