Market scorecard
Market Shortlist / Available Power Scorecard
Use this scorecard to compare markets by available power fit, time-to-power, fiber/interconnection, incentives, latency, permitting, and concentration risk.
The output creates a buyer-specific shortlist because each buyer weights speed, power risk, network path, and tax value differently.
How to use this calculator
Use before requesting site availability, utility service studies, or market tours for AI capacity.
- 01
Enter the buyer scenario
Start with the editable market scorecard inputs and replace defaults with current quotes, tariffs, engineering values, or buyer assumptions.
- 02
Review the modeled outcome
Use the modeled outcome, decision checks, and copied brief to compare the scenario against buyer constraints.
- 03
Verify the result before acting
Check the caveats, source table, and related guides before treating the output as a quote, bid, or final site decision.
Calculator inputs
Scenario defaults are editable. Replace them with current quotes, utility tariffs, tax counsel inputs, or engineering values before relying on the output.
Strong shortlist
Modeled outcome
Use the ranked candidate list to prioritize utility calls, site control checks, and fiber diligence; do not treat it as proof of live market availability.
Score
82 pts
Power score
39 pts
Timeline score
18 pts
Fiber score
8 pts
Incentive score
3 pts
Top candidate market
North Texas
Decision checks
- Top candidate: North Texas (82 pts)
- Shortlist: North Texas, Western Pennsylvania, Central Illinois
- Watchlist: Northern Virginia
Market fit table
Provider questions
- Which shortlisted sites have committed power versus capacity that depends on utility upgrades?
- What make-ready work, deposits, or long-lead equipment control the stated delivery date?
- Which fiber routes are physically diverse, and which cloud or carrier handoffs are already available?
- What assumptions would move the proposal from shortlisted to unavailable or materially delayed?
Evidence to request
- Utility service letter or study showing deliverable MW, upgrade scope, and energization schedule.
- Site-control status, zoning or entitlement path, and expansion land constraints for each shortlisted site.
- Carrier list, route diversity evidence, cloud on-ramp options, and cross-connect lead times.
- Incentive eligibility memo showing investment, job, wage, power, and reporting requirements.
Risk flags
- Northern Virginia remains a watchlist market because the buyer selected constrained-market penalties.
How does the market scorecard model work?
The scorecard evaluates a selected candidate market set against buyer needs across power scale, timeline, fiber and interconnection depth, incentive relevance, latency tolerance, permitting friction, renewable coverage, and concentration risk. It uses buyer inputs to produce a ranked fit tier and diligence checklist. The score prioritizes utility conversations and site diligence while leaving live availability and provider capability for direct verification.
What should buyers verify before using the result?
- The scorecard does not claim live capacity availability; buyers must verify utility service, land control, and provider inventory.
- Incentives can be outweighed by delayed power, grid upgrade cost, or permitting constraints.
- Latency and fiber fit depend on actual routes, carriers, cloud on-ramps, and cross-connect economics.
Related guides and tools
Which sources support this market scorecard model?
| Source | Use in this tool | Link |
|---|---|---|
| CBRE North America Data Center Trends H2 2025 | Market supply, vacancy, and leasing pressure across North America. | Open |
| CBRE North America Data Center Trends H1 2025 | Market supply, vacancy, demand, power, and density context. | Open |
| JLL 2026 Market Outlook for Global Data Centers | Global market outlook, cost, site selection, and power context. | Open |
| Flexential data center site selection considerations | Site selection factors across power, connectivity, latency, and resilience. | Open |
| Bloom Energy data center site selection and power | Power-first site selection framing for large data center development. | Open |
| NCSL state data center incentive snapshot | State-by-state incentive trend and eligibility context. | Open |
| FCC National Broadband Map | Public broadband availability reference for site diligence. | Open |
| U.S. EIA Electric Power Monthly | Electricity price and sales context for power cost assumptions. | Open |