Structuring AI Infrastructure Partnerships That Protect the Public Interest

Public-Private Partnerships

Public-private partnerships for AI infrastructure require independent advisory that protects the public partner's interests — ensuring that deal structures, community benefits, governance requirements, and long-term accountability obligations are properly engineered into the agreement.

Our Approach

AI infrastructure public-private partnerships are among the most complex and consequential agreements that public institutions will enter in the current decade. The private partner — typically a data center operator or hyperscaler — has deep expertise in infrastructure economics and deal structure. The public partner — a university, municipality, or public authority — often does not. That asymmetry creates risk.

LegacyGrid's role is to close that asymmetry — providing independent technical and advisory support that ensures the public partner enters any AI infrastructure agreement with a clear understanding of what it owns, what it is worth, what the minimum acceptable terms are, and how to measure whether the private partner is delivering on its commitments.

Engagement Model

01

Independent asset assessment before any partner conversation begins

02

Deal structure review and guardrail development

03

Community benefit framework development

04

Owner-side technical review during negotiation

05

Post-execution accountability monitoring and reporting

Key Considerations for Public-Private Partnerships

Public partner interest protection — ensuring the public asset is not disposed of below market value

Community benefit obligations — local hiring, student pathways, compute access, and environmental review

Governance and accountability structures — board approval, public reporting, and performance measurement

Deal structure protections — lease terms, escalators, clawback provisions, and exit rights

Long-term performance measurement and reporting

Transparency and public accountability requirements

Questions We Help Answer

Q1

What does the public partner actually own — and what is it worth to a private operator?

Q2

What are the minimum acceptable community benefit and accountability requirements?

Q3

What governance and approval process applies to this type of agreement?

Q4

What deal structure protections are non-negotiable — and how do we enforce them?

Q5

How do we measure and report on private partner performance after execution?