Last updated: July 10, 2026
Acceptance of Terms
These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern your use of gridwatchtheusa.com and everything on it, including our articles, The National Index news archive, our data-center map and local report pages, the Video Library, the document repository, the chapters directory, and comments. By using the site, you agree to these Terms. If you don’t agree, please don’t use the site.
You must be able to form a binding contract to accept these Terms. If you are under 18, you may use the site only with the involvement of a parent or guardian.
Who We Are
GridWatch is an independent, reader-supported public-interest news and accountability publisher covering the U.S. data-center buildout — the hyperscale campuses reshaping local power grids, water supplies, and tax bases.
To be clear about who we are not:
- We are not affiliated with any data-center operator, developer, or utility. We take no money from the hyperscalers, colocation developers, electric or water utilities, or economic-development groups we cover, and nothing we publish is sponsored or endorsed by them.
- We are a separate brand from DeFlock. We support the volunteer open-source DeFlock mapping project and its anti-surveillance work, but we are an independent project, we are not “DeFlock the USA,” and nothing on this site should be attributed to that project.
- We are not a government agency and have no government affiliation.
The chapters listed in our directory are independent local groups. We amplify their work; we do not run them, and they do not speak for us.
Intellectual Property
Our content. Our original reporting, commentary, page text, database enrichments, graphics, and site design are owned by GridWatch and protected by copyright. You may quote brief excerpts with credit and a link back to the source page. Any other reproduction requires our permission.
Facility and project data. Data-center locations and project details shown on our map and local report pages are compiled from public sources — permit and zoning filings, utility interconnection records, incentive agreements, and public reporting — and enriched with our own research, such as operator names, megawatt figures, dates, and addresses. Where any third-party dataset carries its own license, that license governs that data.
Third-party material. The National Index is an archive of headlines and links to external news sources. We link to original sources and quote only what is necessary for reporting and commentary; we do not store or republish full copies of others’ articles. Videos in our Video Library are embedded from YouTube and belong to their creators; we do not host them. Documents in our repository are public records obtained through public-records requests or contributed by chapters.
Trademarks. Company and product names referenced on this site — including those of data-center operators, developers, and utilities — are the trademarks of their respective owners. We reference them solely for identification, reporting, and commentary. We are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of them.
No Legal Advice, No Professional Advice
Nothing on this site is legal advice, and nothing here creates an attorney-client relationship. Our reporting on laws, contracts, permits, utility rates, and public policies is journalism, not professional guidance. If you need advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed professional.
Accuracy Disclaimer
The site and everything on it are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Facility and project data are approximate. Locations, megawatt and water figures, deal terms, and project statuses come from public filings, third-party sources, and our own enrichment. They may be outdated, incomplete, or simply wrong, and they are not engineering or surveying data. Never rely on the data-center map or local report pages for emergencies, navigation, or legal decisions.
External sources. The National Index links out to news sources we do not control. Headlines and linked content may change or disappear, and linking to a story is not an endorsement of it.
Public records. Publication of a public record in our document repository does not imply endorsement of its contents, or any allegation beyond what the record itself says.
How our content is produced. Our content is produced with AI assistance for drafting, summarization, and research, under fixed editorial rules and automated verification, with human editorial oversight. When we get something wrong, we correct it promptly and publicly.
Political Speech Disclaimer
GridWatch publishes commentary, opinion, investigative reporting, and publicly available information. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as statements of verified fact unless expressly identified as factual reporting.
Our coverage of the data-center industry and the companies, utilities, and public bodies that build, power, and approve these facilities is protected speech on matters of public concern.
User Conduct
When you use the site, you agree not to:
- break the law or infringe anyone’s rights;
- use any information on the site — including facility locations — to harass, stalk, threaten, or harm any person, or to damage or interfere with any property;
- attempt to gain unauthorized access to the site, its servers, or its data;
- disrupt or degrade the service, including through automated bulk requests;
- misrepresent your affiliation with us, with the DeFlock project, or with anyone else.
Comment Policy
Comments are open on many articles. Don’t post harassment, threats, doxxing (publishing someone’s private personal information), libel, or copyrighted material you don’t have permission to share.
We may remove any comment at any time, for any reason, without notice. Allowing a comment to remain is not an endorsement: comments are the commenter’s own speech, not ours.
User-Submitted Content and Tips
If you submit anything to us — a tip, a document, a photo, a chapter listing, an event, or other material — the following applies:
- You warrant that you own the material or have permission to share it with us.
- You grant us a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to review, reproduce, edit, and publish it.
- Submitting something does not mean we will publish it, and it does not create any obligation of confidentiality unless we explicitly agree to confidentiality with you in advance.
Copyright Complaints (DMCA)
If you believe material on this site infringes your copyright, see our DMCA policy for how to send a notice.
Merchandise and Support Contributions
We do not currently offer merchandise or accept support contributions. If and when we do:
- Merchandise will be made to order through a print-on-demand partner. Colors may vary slightly from your screen, and sizing follows the size guide on each product. See our Refund & Return Policy and Shipping Policy.
- Support contributions will be voluntary, non-refundable, and not tax-deductible, and will support our reporting and operations.
Affiliate Disclosure
We currently have no affiliate links or affiliate relationships. If that ever changes, affiliate links will be clearly disclosed where they appear.
Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold GridWatch harmless from claims, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of your misuse of the site, your submissions, or your violation of these Terms.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, GridWatch is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of your use of the site, and our total liability for any claim is limited to the greater of one hundred U.S. dollars (US $100) or the amount you paid us in the twelve months preceding the claim.
Governing Law and Venue
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, USA, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. Any dispute arising out of these Terms or your use of the site will be brought exclusively in the state and federal courts located in Georgia, and you consent to their jurisdiction.
Severability
If any part of these Terms is found unenforceable, that part will be limited or removed to the minimum extent necessary, and the rest of these Terms will remain in full effect.
Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time; the date at the top shows the latest version. Continued use of the site after changes take effect means you accept them.
Contact
Questions about these Terms? Reach us through our contact page.