Summary

• Purpose: Align AI/data center growth with enforceable community benefits, energy efficiency, and transparency.
• Net fiscal impact (annual): Low: ~$2.0B | Mid: ~$3.5B | High: ~$5.0B+
• Primary beneficiaries: Host communities, local governments, utilities, workforce boards, and taxpayers.

Mechanism of savings

• Local hiring & training: Reduces unemployment and reliance on federal/state workforce subsidies.
• Community investment funds: 0.5–1% of gross revenue redirected to local infrastructure, offsetting federal/state grants.
• Energy efficiency & renewables: PUE ≤1.4 and renewable sourcing cut grid strain, lowering stabilization costs.
• Waste‑heat recovery: Reduces local heating/fuel subsidies, supports agriculture/industry.
• Infrastructure contributions: Roads, fiber, substations, and emergency services funded by operators, not taxpayers.
• Transparency dashboards: Public reporting deters subsidy abuse and ensures compliance.

Assumptions

• Baseline: U.S. data center industry spends ~$20B annually on energy/infrastructure, with billions in tax incentives.
• Community funds: At 0.5% of gross revenue, a $1B facility contributes ~$5M/year locally.
• Efficiency gains: Cutting PUE from 1.6 to 1.4 saves ~12% energy; scaling nationally yields ~$1–2B avoided costs.
• Renewable integration: 50–80% renewable sourcing reduces federal/state grid stabilization subsidies.
• Infrastructure offsets: Average $50–100M per hyperscale facility shifted from public to private burden.

Calculations

• Low case: ~$2B net savings (energy + infrastructure + community funds).
• Mid case: ~$3.5B net savings (moderate adoption and compliance).
• High case: ~$5B+ net savings (strong adoption, full compliance, maximum renewable/waste‑heat integration).

Risks and mitigation

• Industry resistance: Tie incentives (tax credits, fast‑track permitting) to compliance.
• Measurement complexity: Public dashboards and Commerce audits standardize reporting.
• Local capacity: Workforce training partnerships ensure supply of skilled labor.

Measurement and reporting

• KPIs: Local hiring %, training completions, PUE, renewable %, community fund disbursements, infrastructure contributions.
• Cadence: Quarterly dashboards; annual Commerce/DOE audits.

Bottom line

The Community Data Benefit Act flips the script: instead of taxpayers subsidizing big tech, data centers pay their way. The result is billions in savings, stronger local economies, cleaner energy, and transparent receipts communities can track in real time.