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Data Center Development in the Great Lakes Region

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The Joyce Foundation seeks to understand and share insights on the challenges and opportunities posed by the expansion of data centers in the Great Lakes region. How can we maximize the economic benefits of data centers, while simultaneously avoiding negative impacts to communities and the environment?

This page includes links to information we have developed to date.

Bi-weekly Updates

Below are bi-weekly updates on investments, technology, research, sustainability, and policy presented by Fresh Coast Climate Solutions. Join the mailing list here to receive future bi-weekly updates as they become available.

  1. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – June 4, 2025
  2. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – June 16, 2025
  3. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – July 1, 2025
  4. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – July 14, 2025
  5. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – July 28, 2025
  6. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – August 9, 2025
  7. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – August 26, 2025
  8. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – September 8, 2025
  9. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – September 24, 2025
  10. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – October 6, 2025
  11. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – October 20, 2025
  12. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – November 3, 2025
  13. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – November 19, 2025
  14. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – December 2, 2025
  15. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – December 15, 2025
  16. Data Centers Bi-Weekly Update – January 13, 2026

Research Reports

  1. The new University of Virginia report Economic, Fiscal, and Energy-related Impacts of Data Centers in the Great Lakes Region (January 2026) helps communities, policymakers, utility companies, and planners understand both the scale of current development and the long-term implications for electricity demand, job creation, and regional competitiveness in the Great Lakes region. We’re proud to support this work by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service through our Environment Program. See more information here.
  2. The Joyce Foundation's report Groundwater Governance in EPA Region 5 (May 2024) identifies opportunities across the region and within each state to support and improve regulatory policies and enforcement procedures for sustained, long-term groundwater availability.

Webinar Recordings

In June 2025, the Joyce Foundation launched a webinar series focused on data center development, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities in the Great Lakes region. The recordings of the past webinars are available below. 

  1. Data Center Development in the Great Lakes: Emerging Trends & Insights – June 27, 2025
  2. Emerging Better Practices for Data Center Development in the Great Lakes – September 23, 2025
  3. Economic, Fiscal and Energy-related Impacts of Data Centers in the Great Lakes Region - November 6, 2025
  4. Responding to Data Center Development: Emerging Insights for Communities - December 5, 2025

Please note that this information is for general knowledge purposes only and not professional advice. The Joyce Foundation makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information for any particular purpose.

If you have any questions, please contact us here.

About The Joyce Foundation

Joyce is a nonpartisan, private foundation that invests in evidence-informed public policies and strategies to advance racial equity and economic mobility for the next generation in the Great Lakes region.

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