Given the recent “AI boom,” data centers have captured mainstream attention as an economic force—and mainstream scrutiny for the perceived levels of water and energy they consume. Largely due to community pushback, billions of dollars in planned projects have already been delayed or blocked amid concerns about their impact on local resources. To sustain our industry’s rapid growth, data centers must demonstrate their ability to power the digital economy while remaining good neighbors. Including insights from Josh Claman (Accelsius), Austin Domenici (Johnson Controls), and Nick Schweissguth (Legrand), this panel will explore how industry leaders and policymakers can work together to properly balance performance, sustainability, and community impact.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why being a “good neighbor” is now essential for data center development. Community concerns around energy and water usage are increasingly influencing project approvals and investment timelines.

2. Why efficient AI infrastructure is gaining bipartisan policy support. Government initiatives are increasingly backing technologies that improve the sustainability of data center operations.

3. How cooling innovation dramatically reduces data center energy demand. Technologies like two-phase direct-to-chip liquid cooling address one of the largest contributors to facility energy usage.