DC Readiness Methodology
GridCensus scores 147,272 candidate datacenter locations on a single 0–100 DC Readiness score. The score is a weighted blend of fourteen 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 | 20% | Estimated deliverable capacity, substation proximity, voltage, and headroom. |
| Speed-to-power | 20% | Structural interconnection speed of the market (ERCOT's connect-and-manage is the fastest US path to power, ~1.5–3 yr vs 5–7 in PJM), plus measured queue wait, completion rate, and load growth. |
| Fiber | 12% | Count of nearby fiber providers and internet-exchange proximity. |
| Energy cost | 10% | Commercial/industrial electricity rates. |
| Water | 7% | Water-stress index (cooling-water availability proxy). |
| Hazard | 6% | FEMA National Risk Index and flood-zone exposure. |
| Buildability | 7% | Slope, parcel size, and site-development friction. |
| Labor | 4% | Construction-trades employment and wage data. |
| Existing datacenter | 4% | Proximity to existing datacenter clusters and ecosystem. |
| Land | 3% | Estimated land price per acre and parcel size. |
| Construction cost | 3% | Regional construction cost index. |
| Gas pipeline | 2% | Proximity to natural-gas pipeline for on-site generation. |
| Tax | 1% | Presence of datacenter tax incentives in the jurisdiction. |
| Climate | 1% | 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 fourteen weighted factors into a single number. A higher score means a site screens better across power, speed-to-power, fiber, energy cost, and hazard. Speed-to-power is scored on the structural interconnection speed of the market — ERCOT's connect-and-manage model is the fastest US path to power, so Texas scores at the top, not the bottom. 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.