About the Author
Mia Ruchie,
Marketing & Communications Associate
About the Experts
David Reamer,
Chief Development Officer
Ryan Butterfield, Senior Director of Strategy
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If it feels like every other headline is about AI, data centers, or concerns about the energy grid, you’re not imagining it.
With that visibility comes a cascade of questions: What exactly are these facilities? Why are they showing up in rural communities? And how does a farmer-founded energy developer fit into this story?
To unpack why Geronimo Power is stepping into this space — and how we’re doing it differently — I spoke with two leaders shaping our strategy: Chief Development Officer David Reamer and Senior Director of Strategy Ryan Butterfield. Together, their perspectives point to a development philosophy rooted in transparency, accountability, and long-term value for rural communities.
Why Data Centers, and Why Now?
The growth of the data center market has accelerated at a pace few anticipated. AI adoption, cloud expansion, and always-on digital infrastructure have created unprecedented demand for power — and that demand isn’t slowing.
For Geronimo Power, this evolution feels like a natural extension of work already underway. For years, we’ve partnered with hyperscalers to deliver energy solutions. Developing powered data parks allows us to take a more integrated, responsible approach to meeting this growing demand.
But this shift isn’t just about faster technology or increased capacity. It’s about energy independence and long-term competitiveness. As Ryan Butterfield notes, the infrastructure supporting AI and data growth is directly tied to national security and economic strength. Meeting that moment requires not just speed, but intention.
The real question isn’t whether more data centers will be built — it’s how they’re built, where, and who benefits.
Bringing Our Development Roots Into a New Space
Geronimo Power has spent more than two decades developing energy projects with a simple guiding principle: long-term value for the communities where we operate.
That same mindset carries over into powered data parks.
“When we became a renewable energy developer, it was because we believed it was a better technology for the communities we serve,” Ryan explained. “If Powered Data Parks can bring meaningful economic development to those same places, we’re going to consider them.”
Rather than approaching data centers as a standalone real estate or infrastructure play, Geronimo Power views them through a development lens shaped by agriculture, land stewardship, and long-term partnership.
Powered data parks aren’t a departure from who we are — they’re another expression of the same development DNA.
Transparency From Day One
Few types of infrastructure generate as many questions as data centers — from water use and noise to land impacts and electric rates.
In many parts of the country, those conversations happen late, behind closed doors, and often under strict NDAs that limit what local leaders and residents can share. Geronimo Power has taken a different approach from the start.
“We don’t require community officials to sign NDAs,” Ryan said. “These are their homes. People deserve to ask questions and talk openly without feeling restricted.”
Transparency, in practice, means:
- Meeting early with public officials, county commissioners, and community leaders
- Sharing long-term vision, timelines, and economic projections
- Addressing known concerns from other communities honestly — rather than avoiding them
“Transparency is about sharing information in a way that builds trust,” David added. “That includes being clear about benefits like tax revenue, local jobs, and operations roles — as well as how we’re addressing community concerns.”
At its core, transparency means ensuring people feel heard before decisions are made.
Community-First: Listening Before We Draw the Map
Community-first development isn’t a slogan — it’s an operating principle.
“Community-first development means engaging early to ensure there is support for the initiatives we want to pursue,” David said.
Every community has different priorities, and Geronimo Power takes the time to understand them before plans are finalized. That flexibility has already shaped projects on the ground.
At the Summit Lake project — one of the generators supporting the Nobles County Powered Data Park — community feedback directly influenced design decisions. Concerns about proximity led the team back to the drawing board, resulting in adjustments that ultimately shifted public sentiment.
Listening first leads to better projects — and stronger relationships.
Bring Your Own Generation (BYOG)
One of the most common questions communities ask is simple: Who pays for the power, and where does it come from?
Geronimo Power’s Bring Your Own Generation (BYOG) model was designed to answer that question directly.
Rather than arriving as a massive new load on the grid, powered data parks are paired with new electric generation developed by Geronimo Power. The load and the solution come together as one integrated project.
“This strategy protects local ratepayers and supports grid reliability,” David explained.
As Ryan added, electric rates have been on the rise over the past few years — well before data center growth. BYOG ensures that new electric costs associated with data centers are allocated to the data center itself, not local families, helping reduce pressure on already rising rates.
Respecting Water in Every Decision
Water is another concern that surfaces quickly — especially in agricultural regions.
For Geronimo Power, water stewardship is deeply familiar territory. As a farmer-founded company, we’ve long worked in regions where water availability is constrained and carefully managed.
That experience directly informs powered data park design. Facilities utilize efficient, closed-loop cooling systems that dramatically reduce ongoing water needs.
“We went into this knowing we have to be respectful,” Ryan said. “We don’t want to disrupt water access or add to existing challenges.”
Looking Ahead:
Powered Data Parks, Built the Geronimo Way
Data centers are becoming as essential to modern life as roads and power lines. The real choice lies in how that infrastructure is built — and who it ultimately serves.
At Geronimo Power, our answer is clear: be transparent, prioritize communities, bring our own generation, and use water responsibly.
As the backbone of our digital world continues to grow, we believe it can — and should — be built in a way that honors the land, protects critical resources, and creates lasting value for the communities that host it.
