Site Selection Intelligence
AI Datacenter Readiness Assessment
Comprehensive evaluation of datacenter readiness for AI workloads. Assess fiber connectivity, power infrastructure, interconnection timelines, and deployment risks.
Scoring Methodology
Understanding Readiness Scores
Top Tier (85-100)
Immediate availability with premium pricing
Good (70-84)
6-12 month deployment timeline
Development (<70)
12+ months or significant infrastructure required
Market Analysis
Regional Readiness Scores
Northern Virginia
Phoenix
Dallas
Silicon Valley
Chicago
Austin
Evaluation Framework
Critical Readiness Factors
Fiber Connectivity
- • Proximity to backbone (<10 miles)
- • Multiple carrier options
- • Low latency to exchanges
- • Diverse route availability
Power Infrastructure
- • Substation capacity (50-200MW+)
- • Redundant power feeds
- • Grid stability history
- • Renewable energy options
Interconnection
- • Queue position & timing
- • ISO/RTO requirements
- • Transmission upgrades
- • Permitting timeline
Risk Factors
- • Curtailment probability
- • Weather/climate risks
- • Regulatory environment
- • Supply chain constraints
Explore More
Site Selection Tools
CSS (Curtailment Stress Score)
Real-time grid congestion and curtailment risk by zone
Open ToolDeep Dives
Readiness Resources
Global Readiness
PJM interconnection queue AE2-101 time to power
TTPS for PJM queue AE2-101: stage/age/voltage priors, utility history, and substation upgrade signals. 12/18/24 month probabilities.
PJM interconnection queue AE2-102 time to power
TTPS for PJM queue AE2-102: stage/age/voltage priors, utility history, and substation upgrade signals. 12/18/24 month probabilities.
PJM interconnection queue AE2-103 time to power
TTPS for PJM queue AE2-103: stage/age/voltage priors, utility history, and substation upgrade signals. 12/18/24 month probabilities.
Location Readiness
Ashburn VA fiber and power score for AI
Composite score for Ashburn VA: fiber proximity, substation capacity, interconnection queues, and curtailment stress.
Atlanta GA fiber and power score for AI
Composite score for Atlanta GA: fiber proximity, substation capacity, interconnection queues, and curtailment stress.
Austin TX fiber and power score for AI
Composite score for Austin TX: fiber proximity, substation capacity, interconnection queues, and curtailment stress.
Deep Dives
Grid & Infrastructure Strategy
Why Readiness Matters
The True Cost of Site Selection
A 'ready' site isn't just about available land. Interconnection queue times now range from 6 months to 5+ years depending on the ISO, and infrastructure upgrade costs can add $10-50M to project budgets. Readiness scoring quantifies these hidden variables.
Our methodology combines Time-to-Power Scores (TTPS), fiber lit building density, utility responsiveness metrics, and historical curtailment data. Each factor is weighted by your deployment phase: greenfield development vs. existing facility expansion.
Markets with high readiness scores offer faster path-to-production but often command premium pricing. Lower-scored markets may provide 30-50% cost savings for workloads that can tolerate 12-18 month timelines.
How do you evaluate datacenter site readiness?
Site readiness scoring considers four key factors: power availability (capacity & timeline), fiber connectivity (distance to backbone), environmental risks (water & heat), and local tax incentives. A 'Top Tier' site scores 85+ and offers <18 month energization.
Key Data Points
- Power availability: substation capacity and interconnection queue position
- Fiber connectivity: proximity to backbone and diversity of routes
- Environmental risk: water scarcity and wet-bulb temperature peaks
- Incentives: state sales tax exemptions and local property tax abatements
Assessment Questions
Readiness FAQ
How do you calculate readiness scores?
Readiness scores combine TTPS (interconnection timing), available power capacity, fiber lit building counts, local permitting timelines, and incentive availability. Each factor is weighted by deployment phase: site selection, development, or expansion.
What's the difference between a score of 85 vs 70?
A score of 85+ typically means <18 month energization, proven utility cooperation, and minimal transmission upgrades. Scores of 70-84 indicate 18-36 month timelines with moderate infrastructure requirements. Below 70 suggests significant development work or extended queue delays.
How often are scores updated?
Real-time indices (TTPS, CSS) update daily based on ISO/RTO data feeds. Market-level readiness scores refresh monthly incorporating utility tariff changes, queue position movements, and new infrastructure coming online.
Which markets are best for AI training vs inference?
Training favors low power cost and high vacancy markets (Columbus, Kansas City, Austin) where latency matters less. Inference demands low-latency edge presence near users—driving demand in Atlanta, Chicago, and secondary metros near population centers.
Need a Custom Site Assessment?
Get detailed readiness analysis for specific parcels including interconnection probability, infrastructure gap analysis, and deployment timeline estimates.
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