It feels like debt. Sure data centers can give your town taxes. But it’ll hurt energy prices and pollute your water and add a constant hum to the environment. And what’s the end result - lots of people being out of jobs. So that tax relief will come back to bite everyone at some point right?
Except they almost certainly dont actually pay taxes. At best they make PILOT payments.
Well at least for the first few years as an incentive to move into that area. What happens later depends on lobbying and negotiation skills. And also assuming data-centers for AI are not bubbles that go Pop!