2026 Virtual Workshop: How to Negotiate with Data Centers… Maximizing Clean Water Agency Benefits

About

With concerns growing over the rapid expansion of data centers around the country, this Virtual Workshop will focus on the critical role that water and wastewater utilities must play in seeking to ensure meaningful results from the planning, construction and operational phases of data center construction. While others are exploring valuable but highly technical aspects of the data center expansion, this Virtual Workshop will take a different approach in line with NACWA’s mission of raising the voice and stature of the clean water sector. We will explore how to ensure that clean water utility leaders have a meaningful seat at the negotiating table and, when at the table, what types of actions the utility should be seeking to benefit the utility, its customers and community. In other words, we will focus on pinpointing the needs that utilities may have that data centers may be able and willing to invest in.

The Virtual Workshop will highlight a new NACWA report, being released in July, that sets out some of these negotiating strategies and how to navigate complex discussions with developers, local government and state officials, community leaders, and economic development stakeholders. We will also explore how the same strategies can be employed with any major industry that may be coming to your community, so it is an opportunity for all utility leaders to learn and exchange valuable ideas.

2025 Data Center Virtual Workshop Website Photo

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Public Agency/Supporting Affiliate

Member

300

Non-Member

399

Corporate/Legal

*Please note this registration fee is for federal government agencies (ex: EPA) and state department agencies (ex: state permitting or regulatory departments) only. If you fall in this category and would like to register, please send your request to registration@nacwa.org.

Take advantage of our exclusive group discount! For every 4 registrations from your organization, the 5th registration is complimentary. Please register the 4 individuals online by using the group registration feature. Once those 4 have been registered, email the name and contact information of the 5th registrant to registration@nacwa.org. Please note that due to the interactive nature of this Workshop, registration is required per individual.

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Why Attend?

Gain practical strategies to help your utility secure a meaningful seat at the table during data center planning and negotiate outcomes that benefit your utility, customers, and community.
Learn how to navigate complex stakeholder discussions with developers, local and state officials, economic development leaders, and community partners while balancing infrastructure, affordability, and public health priorities.
Get an exclusive look at NACWA's new report featuring negotiation strategies and best practices that can be applied not only to data centers, but to any major industrial development coming to your community.

Registration Information

Advance registrations must be received by Monday, September 14, 2026. Advance registrants will receive confirmation via email. Registrations will be accepted after the deadline, but attendees may not be listed on the Participant List. If you have not received a confirmation email within 5 business days after registering, please contact NACWA at registration@nacwa.org. 

Virtual Workshop registration fees include access to all available session handouts, speaker biographies, as well as a recording of each session.