If there’s one unmistakable takeaway from the 2026 site selection landscape so far, it’s this: investment activity remains strong, but certainty is harder than ever to secure.
At the Site Selectors Guild’s 2026 Spring Conference, Guild Members gathered for a timely pulse check on the state of site selection, grounded in the Guild’s latest research and informed by real-time, active project work. Moderated by DCI’s Robyn Domber, Senior Vice President of Research, the discussion featured insights from Gregg Wassmansdorf, Jay Garner, Jeannette Goldsmith, Jerry Szatan and Elias van Herwaarden—each advising projects across sectors, geographies and investment types.
What emerged closely mirrors the findings of the 2026 State of Site Selection Pulse Check report: today’s market is active and opportunity-rich, but navigating it requires deeper due diligence, multiple scenario planning and more realistic expectations than in years past.
Infrastructure Has Become the Ultimate Gatekeeper
Utility and infrastructure capacity, particularly electric power, has moved decisively from a competitive differentiator to a non-negotiable filter.
According to the Pulse Check research, 76% of Guild Members report infrastructure capacity as the top factor impacting location decisions and 61% cite it as the No. 1 reason locations are eliminated.
As Guild Members noted during the discussion, the scale of demand has changed. Site selection conversations are increasingly focused not on where companies want to invest, but where projects are viable based on power availability, reliability and timing. In today’s environment, “shovel-ready” is no longer aspirational but expected.
Policy and Tariff Uncertainty Continue to Extend Timelines
While infrastructure now ranks as the top site selection factor, policy uncertainty remains a persistent drag on momentum. Longer timelines, deeper due diligence and heightened internal scrutiny are becoming standard, particularly for capital-intensive and foreign direct investment projects.
“It’s harder and harder for all of us to provide a level of certainty to business in order for them to invest with confidence,” said Gregg Wassmansdorf, senior managing director of global strategy at Newmark.
As a result, site selectors are spending more time helping clients recalibrate expectations, balancing urgency with feasibility, and speed with long-term risk. Locations that can offer clarity, predictability and transparency around permitting, incentives and regulatory processes are better positioned to remain competitive in this environment.
NIMBYism Is More Organized and Entering the Process Earlier
Community opposition to projects isn’t new, but its influence is growing. The Pulse Check found that 69% of consultants rate NIMBYism as a significant and increasing barrier to development. This puts a strain not only on the community’s reputation for future investment, but also on the company’s reputation.
While it has not yet overtaken infrastructure or workforce as a primary deal-killer, Guild Members emphasized that community resistance is becoming more coordinated, more visible and more influential, particularly for data centers and other energy-intensive projects.
As discussed during the session, proactive education, transparency and early engagement are becoming essential components of risk management to ensure the community and corporation don’t get red flagged.
A Divided Outlook—But a Clear Signal
Guild sentiment is nearly evenly split: roughly one-third of Members are more optimistic than six months ago, one-third less optimistic and one-third unchanged. That divide reflects differences across sectors, geographies, project types and whether projects are domestic or foreign led.
Yet across those perspectives, one point of alignment remains clear: traditional location playbooks are no longer sufficient. “If you look back 20 years, the world keeps moving forward. Companies adapt. Communities have to adapt too,” said Elias van Herwaarden, principal at LocationPerspectives.
Want to learn more? Download the Pulse Check report and stay tuned for insights on site selection trends by signing up for the Guild’s e-newsletter here.