??? Continue and deepen the community of practice by hosting workshops and convenings…

The University of Virginia awarded a contract to Tamara Kneese on August 7, 2026, with a cumulative value of $50,000. The contract (A207_PO-0466573) encompasses research and community engagement initiatives focused on evaluating the environmental and social impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, particularly data centers. The primary deliverables include hosting workshops and convenings in the Charlottesville area to strengthen relationships among community organizations, policymakers, technologists, and University of Virginia stakeholders with the objective of developing holistic frameworks for assessing data center impacts.

Under this award, Kneese will develop a comprehensive data center community engagement playbook through case study research conducted in collaboration with faculty and staff from the University of Virginia School of Data Science and Environmental Institute, along with partner organizations including the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Government AI Coalition, Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), the Engine Room (South America), Digital Futures Lab (India), and Data & Society. The case studies will document how data center host communities have negotiated with technology companies and local governments, incorporating examples from Virginia, other United States locations, and international jurisdictions. The research will produce materials and toolkits designed for application at local, state, national, and international standards levels to help stakeholders assess and mitigate environmental impacts of data centers and related energy infrastructure.