A data center’s electric demand is normally described in megawatts, but the number can mean planned capacity, utility-service capacity, IT load, or actual use. Those are not interchangeable.
Ask whether a reported MW figure refers to one building, an entire campus, the ultimate buildout, or a substation request.
What to verify locally: Learn the unit conversion, the questions to ask, and why load growth can affect grid planning.
Read MW claims carefully
Use original public records whenever possible. A developer statement can explain an intent; an approval, permit, or utility filing is where enforceable details are more likely to appear.
Grid-planning questions
Record the date, document title, agency, page number, and project address. That turns a claim into something another reader can check.
Evidence standard: this guide avoids treating a proposal as a completed project, and avoids treating a missing record as proof that no impact exists.