Timeline
January 2026 - April 2026
Status: Completed
Description
This website is Adrian Schmeichler’s capstone project for Professor David Hoffman’s PubPol 255S: Intro to Cyber Policy at Duke University.
The project examines the tension between rapid data center expansion and the communities pushing back against it. It focuses particularly on Virginia, an established data center hub, and North Carolina, where the industry is rapidly expanding. Adrian chose to focus on data center development because it represents one of the most visible physical manifestations of the AI boom, bringing the demands of digital infrastructure into conflict with local communities across the United States.
The Background & Policy tab provides an overview of the issue, the incentives driving development, and current federal, state, and local policy. Case Studies walks through one project in each state for comparative analysis. The site also includes two interactive tools: a Project Map plotting tracked proposals across NC and VA, and a Decision Framework that scores a proposal across several factors and recommends next steps for local communities. A Path Forward closes with three possible policy approaches for balancing national infrastructure demands with local concerns.
The initial foundation for this project emerged from exploratory research for Professor Ken Rogerson. This capstone served as a proof of concept and is now being expanded and formalized.
Team
Members
Adrian Schmeichler is a rising junior studying Public Policy, Computer Science, and Economics. He has worked as a Research Assistant at the Sanford School of Public Policy for the past year and is interested in emerging technologies, their societal impacts, and the challenges of regulating them.
Contact
Email: adrian.schmeichler@duke.edu
Contact info (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/schmeichler/
Artificial Intelligence, Student Project, Student Project, Renewable Energy Technology