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Questions for Data Centers

Questions and clarifications for the Vinco/Vastera LLC data center proposed in Hope, Hempstead County, Arkansas.

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Why We're Asking

Vinco is a full-service IT strategy firm offering services including data center and storage solutions, security strategies, and cloud migrations.

These questions were prepared based on the fact sheet distributed by civic agencies and various news sources. They're organized in sections that mirror that fact sheet, so you can find the topic you care about most.

This list is a starting point. It is not exhaustive, and it doesn't limit what residents may ask.

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Questions by Topic

1Project Overview5 questions
  1. How was this site identified as a potential option?
  2. What was the origin of interest in this specific property in Hempstead County?
  3. How long has Vinco/Vastera LLC been in the data center development field?
    1. Does the firm specialize in facility size, energy capacity or specific AI infrastructure sector?
  4. Is Vinco/Vastera LLC focused on siting or does it perform the full development spectrum, e.g., planning, designing, building, and operating physical facilities?
  5. What are previous projects and references to speak to its operations, practices and other relevant information?
2Facility Scope4 questions
  1. What is the anticipated number of parking spaces?
  2. How much hardscape, amount preserved for green space, buffer area with other businesses, with nature, with residences?
  3. Are there requirements to adhere to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) — wildlife disturbance, wetlands preservation, community engagement?
  4. Is there anticipation to build on the entire acreage or future sale with adequate buffer?
3Water Usage4 questions
  1. Is the “small office building” comparison based on square feet, staffing/occupant levels, industry/field standard?
  2. Does the claim of very low water use mean the site will have a Graywater Recycling System; have onsite Non-Potable Water Circularity?
  3. Does very low water use apply facility wide or only to the infrastructure functions?
  4. Will the facility have onsite wastewater systems with redundancy from the utility provider as backup?
4Cooling System2 questions
  1. Is the Closed-Loop system applicable to the entire facility or just the infrastructure functions?
  2. Does the claim of “reuses water” mean the site will have a Graywater Recycling System; have onsite Non-Potable Water Circularity?
5Employment7 questions
  1. What is the projected radius from which the employment pool draws?
  2. Post exact position titles for all departments, brief description of work duties and education or equivalent skill levels.
  3. What are the related industries for the “full-time jobs” skill sets? The site could cannibalize area businesses that have limited or no pipeline for replacements.
  4. Is the average salary based for the industry, for the size of facilities?
  5. Will the project need specialized construction firms, or can general local contractors handle the project?
  6. Please detail Vinco/Vastera’s track record with prime and subcontractor program frameworks.
  7. Please detail Vinco/Vastera’s experience and track record in implementing and supporting quality of life and well-being programs for construction personnel (worker welfare initiatives).
6Electric Service4 questions
  1. Are load studies from an independent, third party?
  2. Are there anticipated infrastructure upgrades; are they based on capital improvement lifecycle for the field/industry?
  3. Will Vinco/Vastera commit to 45–60% clean energy in its capital improvement lifecycle?
  4. Will Vinco/Vastera commit to supporting:
    1. High-load revenue generated from this data center being explicitly allocated to subsidize or reduce the base distribution charges for local small businesses?
    2. A protected “Micro-Business Rate Class” (customers with five or fewer employees) that shields businesses with minimal energy footprints from fixed monthly customer charge increases?
    3. Clear metrics and annual reporting from the occupant and from the utility showing the community exactly how much revenue from the data center is being reinvested into local grid resilience, specifically for commercial corridors populated by small, independent shops?
7Partnership Protection Promise4 questions
  1. Will Vinco/Vastera commit to a quarterly reporting requirement of energy use?
  2. What’s the time frame of “immediate”?
  3. What’s the time frame for “future”: how far out — in perpetuity, for life of building, for life of tenancy?
  4. What does “long-term benefits” mean? Is Vinco/Vastera open to discussing long-term benefits that are meaningful to the community?
8Why Data Centers Are Important3 questions
  1. Power the digital world:
    1. What is the marketing to attract the tenant to this site?
    2. Is there intention to recruit a tenant that supports industry in the area?
  2. Drive local economic growth:
    1. Capital investment: is this calculated as direct, indirect, induced?
    2. Family-sustaining jobs:
      1. Post exact position titles for all departments, brief description of work duties and education and skill levels.
      2. What are entry level and progression of careers expected for the site/employer?
      3. Share the salary range for position titles for all departments.
      4. What size “family” are economic projections? Are they a reflection of the area’s population; the radius of the employment pool?
      5. What is the typical retention of employees in the field?
    3. What are the:
      1. Property tax revenue projection?
      2. Personal tax revenue projection?
      3. Sales and use tax revenue projection?
  3. Support innovations: is this calculated as direct, indirect, induced or a general statement about the general use of such facilities?

Top Community Concerns

The fact sheet takes on the questions residents ask most. Here is what we're asking about each one.

1Water“Will it consume a lot of water?”2 questions
  1. Is the “small office building” comparison based on square feet, staffing/occupant levels, industry/field standard?
  2. Does the claim of very low water use mean the site will have a Graywater Recycling System; have onsite Non-Potable Water Circularity?
2Electric bills“Will it increase my electric bill?”3 questions
  1. Are there anticipated infrastructure upgrades; are they based on capital improvement lifecycle for the field/industry?
  2. Will Vinco/Vastera commit to 45–60% clean or renewable energy in its capital improvement lifecycle?
  3. Will Vinco/Vastera commit to supporting:
    1. High-load revenue generated from this data center being explicitly allocated to subsidize or reduce the base distribution charges for local small businesses?
    2. A protected “Micro-Business Rate Class” (customers with five or fewer employees) that shields businesses with minimal energy footprints from fixed monthly customer charge increases?
    3. Clear metrics and annual reporting from the occupant and from the utility showing the community exactly how much revenue from the data center is being reinvested into local grid resilience, specifically for commercial corridors populated by small, independent shops?
3Air quality“Will the project cause air pollution?”2 questions
  1. Will Vinco/Vastera commit to:
    1. Installing and monitoring air pollution measurements within a community/publicly supported radius?
    2. Installing and monitoring air pollution measurements on its site?
    3. Training impacted residents on how to use monitoring tools?
    4. Issuing a quarterly report in easily accessible formats and through publicly identified channels?
  2. EPA requirements:
    1. With the fluctuating policy and regulatory environments, is “meet or exceed EPA requirements” based on previous, long-standing regulatory environments and policies?
    2. The fact sheet states data centers do not emit air pollutants in normal operations. What are potential abnormal operations?
    3. What are contingency plans and public agencies involved to mitigate the occurrence of abnormal operations?
    4. What is the source of backup power equipment and typical time by which reconnection to standard supply is expected?
4Noise“Will it create noise?”1 question
  1. Will Vinco/Vastera commit to:
    1. Installing and monitoring noise pollution measurements within a community/publicly supported radius?
    2. Installing and monitoring noise pollution measurements on its site?
    3. Training impacted residents on how to use monitoring tools?
    4. Issuing a quarterly report in easily accessible formats and through publicly supported channels?

Have a Question of Your Own?

Sylvia C. Brown, Chairperson
Cydnee Harris, Project Manager, Environmental Programs

870-826-8774  |  313-673-0348
actionpartners.pro@gmail.com

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