Red Tape Index Ranks States for AI Data Center Readiness

Per a GlobeNewswire press release announcing the Red Tape Index (RTI) rollout, RTI introduced the U.S. Data Center Readiness Index (DCRI) and released inaugural state rankings for AI-era hyperscale infrastructure. The press release reports Texas ranked 1st, followed by Oregon, Illinois, and Florida. The published Top 10 list also includes Georgia, Ohio, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia.

Per the press release, the DCRI consolidates publicly available federal and institutional datasets into a composite readiness score across nine dimensions: energy supply, grid reliability, interconnection, natural disaster risk, permitting, workforce, water supply, economic climate, and public sentiment. The release describes the DCRI as intended for evaluating operational, regulatory, and infrastructure conditions that affect hyperscale AI and cloud campus deployment.

Industry-pattern observations: Benchmark products that combine energy, permitting, and interconnection metrics are commonly used by hyperscalers and developers during site selection because those factors materially affect capital expenditure timelines and operating risk. For practitioners, the DCRI's consolidation of multiple public datasets into a single composite score may reduce initial screening time for market-level comparisons, while detailed due diligence will still require project-level data such as local grid interconnection queue position and utility tariffs.

Editorial analysis: State-level readiness rankings matter because data center and AI campus investment decisions increasingly weigh energy availability, permitting speed, and climate resiliency. Comparable indexes have influenced where utilities and regional development agencies prioritize transmission upgrades and economic incentives. The press release also states RTI has signed partnerships to expand into more than 30 countries by the end of 2026, which, if realized, would extend this benchmarking approach to international site selection conversations.

Editorial analysis: Observers should track whether the DCRI publishes methodology details and raw scores for each dimension, how frequently indices update, and whether utilities or hyperscalers cite DCRI results in site announcements. Also monitor RTI's stated international rollout and partner disclosures for broader benchmarking coverage and comparability across jurisdictions.