Our Commitment
We Publish Our Standard.
Then We Hold To It.
This is not a marketing page. It is the framework we operate under on every project — published publicly so that communities, landowners, and partners can hold us accountable.
From Brian Patten — Founder & Principal
Why We Published This.
The data center industry is moving fast — faster than most communities are equipped to respond to. Developers show up with plans, timelines, and legal teams. Local officials and residents often don't have the tools to evaluate what they're agreeing to.
I grew up in land. My family has been in this business for four generations. I've seen what happens when development moves without accountability — and I've seen what good development looks like when it's done with a community instead of to one.
NGLC will not do business the first way. This document is our standard. It applies to every project we work on, in every market. It is not aspirational. It is operational.
If you believe we have violated it, contact us directly.
The Standard
Eight Commitments. No Exceptions.
Site Selection — Right Place, Right Reason
We will not pursue sites where data center development is fundamentally incompatible with the surrounding community — regardless of how favorable the land economics are. We assess community fit before we assess financial fit.
Community Engagement — Before We Have a Plan to Sell
We engage with communities before we have a signed purchase agreement and before we have a buyer. We do not show up with a done deal. We show up with a conversation.
Noise — Acoustic Engineering on Every Project
Cooling systems are the primary noise source for data centers. We require acoustic engineering assessments on every project and will not proceed to entitlement without a credible noise mitigation plan.
Water — We Will Not Compromise Local Supply
We will not pursue sites where data center water consumption would meaningfully strain local supply. Where cooling water is required, we prioritize closed-loop and reclaimed water systems.
Power — Transparent About the Infrastructure
We will be honest with communities about what data center power infrastructure means — for the local grid, for ratepayers, and for long-term energy supply. We do not paper over these questions.
Visual Impact — No False Renderings
We will not present renderings that misrepresent the visual footprint of a data center development. What we show in community meetings is what will be built.
Decommissioning — We Are Responsible for What We Build
We will require decommissioning plans on every project we entitle. Communities should not be left with stranded infrastructure. We will not sell to operators who refuse to commit to decommissioning standards.
Local Economic Benefit — Revenue Should Serve the Community
We will advocate for tax structures that direct data center revenue to local schools, roads, and services. We will not support arrangements that export value from the communities hosting this infrastructure.
Honest Limitations
Where We Don't Have All the Answers.
This section is the most important part of this document. Any company can publish commitments. Fewer are willing to publish what they don't know.
Cumulative Impact
We can assess the impact of one project. We cannot fully assess what happens when ten data centers are built in the same county over five years. Cumulative infrastructure strain, traffic, noise, and community character changes are real — and we don't have a complete answer for how to manage them at scale.
Energy Transition Timeline
Some of our sites will be powered by natural gas — at least initially. We acknowledge that natural gas is not a permanent solution and that the energy transition will require honest reckoning with this. We will not pretend otherwise.
Thermal & Water Stress
Climate change is increasing thermal and water stress in many of our target markets. We do not yet have a complete framework for assessing long-term water viability under changing climate conditions. We are working on it.
This Document Will Change
The data center industry is evolving fast. Our understanding of its impacts is evolving too. This document will be updated as we learn — and we will publish what changed and why. Version history will be maintained.
Free to Any Community
Free Ordinance Consulting.
No Strings Attached.
NGLC offers free ordinance consulting to any county or municipality navigating data center development — regardless of whether NGLC is doing business there. This is not a sales tool. It is a commitment to communities that deserve better resources than they currently have.
We provide ordinance review, draft language, developer negotiation guidance, and community presentation support. At no cost. With no expectation of future business.
Request ConsultingHold Us To It.
If you believe NGLC has violated this commitment on any project, reach out directly at [email protected]