Core Insights - The Indiana legislature passed a bill in 2019 offering significant sales tax exemptions for eligible data centers, allowing them to avoid the state's 7% tax on equipment and power purchases, benefiting large tech companies [1] - Demand for data center capacity has surged, particularly due to the AI boom following the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022, with projected investments reaching $1 trillion by 2027 [3] - A CNBC analysis revealed that states are forfeiting hundreds of millions in tax revenue to attract data centers, with major beneficiaries including Amazon, Meta, and Google, all valued over $1 trillion [4] Tax Incentives and Economic Impact - Nearly all states with sales taxes provide exemptions for data centers, with 42 states offering full or partial exemptions, totaling nearly $6 billion in the last five years [6] - Data centers in Northern Virginia generated 50,700 jobs and contributed $7.2 billion to the economy between 2021 and 2023, while the rest of Virginia created only 12,100 jobs and contributed $1.3 billion [16] - A Virginia study indicated that for every dollar not collected in sales tax, the state generated 48 cents in new revenue, outperforming other industries with similar exemptions [11][12] Job Creation and Economic Viability - Data centers create relatively few permanent jobs, with a Microsoft facility in Illinois receiving over $38 million in exemptions but only creating 20 permanent jobs [7][20] - A 2017 report found that data centers employ an average of 1,688 workers during construction but only 157 permanent jobs once operational [21] - The Virginia audit projected a significant increase in energy demand from data centers, with power demand expected to double in the next decade [23][24] Corporate Responses and Sustainability Efforts - Major tech companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft assert they work with utility companies to manage growth costs and invest in sustainable energy sources [25] - Amazon reported contributing $460 million in property taxes and fees in Virginia in 2023 and has invested over $75 billion in the state since 2011 [26]