This episode is available to stream on-demand
North America’s data center sector is undergoing a major reset as AI accelerates demand beyond anything the industry has seen before. Power availability, policy friction, and infrastructure delays are colliding with a new wave of investment focused on AI-driven workloads. As traditional hyperscale hubs face grid strain and permitting bottlenecks, developers are pursuing new strategies - from rural megacampuses and microgrids to regulatory arbitrage and power-led site selection. This episode will explore the macro forces shaping the next phase of growth:
- How AI is changing site selection, infrastructure models, and investment priorities
- Why developers are turning to onsite generation to bypass grid delays
- Has speed to market overtaken sustainability when it comes to deployment?
- What operators must do to secure public trust and long-term regulatory support
- How rural data centers can feasibly become in the search for power security
