DC Readiness Methodology
GridCensus scores 164,098 candidate datacenter locations on a single 0–100 DC Readiness score. The score is a weighted blend of ten factors derived from public data sources. It is a screening tool to triage where to look first — not a site-specific engineering, environmental, or interconnection assessment.
Scoring weights
| Factor | Weight | What it captures |
|---|---|---|
| Power availability | 25% | Estimated deliverable capacity, substation proximity, and headroom. |
| Speed-to-power | 20% | Interconnection-queue dynamics, substation adjacency, transmission distance. |
| Fiber | 15% | Count of nearby fiber providers and internet-exchange proximity. |
| Water | 10% | Water-stress index (cooling-water availability proxy). |
| Hazard | 10% | FEMA National Risk Index and flood-zone exposure. |
| Labor | 5% | Construction-trades employment and wage data. |
| Existing datacenter | 5% | Proximity to existing datacenter clusters and ecosystem. |
| Land | 5% | Estimated land price per acre and parcel size. |
| Tax | 3% | Presence of datacenter tax incentives in the jurisdiction. |
| Climate | 2% | Cooling/heating degree days and mean temperature. |
Honest limitations
- Scores are screening estimates derived from public data, not verified, site-specific assessments.
- Catalogued candidate capacity is a theoretical aggregate of per-site estimates — never "deliverable" or "available now."
- Interconnection feasibility, environmental remediation, and utility commitments require dedicated studies beyond this screen.
FAQ
- What does the DC Readiness score mean?
- It is a 0–100 screening estimate that blends ten weighted factors into a single number. A higher score means a site screens better across power, speed-to-power, fiber, water, and hazard. It is a starting point for site selection, not a substitute for site-specific engineering, environmental, or interconnection studies.
- Is the catalogued capacity actually available power?
- No. 'Catalogued candidate capacity' is the sum of per-site available-capacity estimates — a theoretical aggregate, not deliverable power and not power available now. Actual deliverable capacity depends on interconnection studies and utility commitments.
- Where does the data come from?
- Public sources including FEMA's National Risk Index, FCC fiber data, EIA electricity rates, FERC interconnection queues, parcel and land-use records, and climate normals. Scores are derived estimates and refresh monthly.
- How often is the dataset updated?
- The aggregate dataset refreshes monthly. Every page shows a machine-readable 'Dataset updated' timestamp.
Dataset updated . Screening estimates derived from public data sources.