Connect | Virginia // Debate: Can data centers ever earn back public trust?
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- Energy & Sustainability
- Management & Operations
- Open Session
Speakers
Alex Rakow
Director of Sustainability, Data Centers, Schneider Electric
Ryan O'Neill
Associate Director, United States Green Building Council
Senior Director, Energy & Data Center Solutions, ICF
Melissa Farney
Education Committee Chair, Nomad Futurist
Aaron Ruffin
Site Selection & Infrastructure Lead, OpenAI
Ronita Wade
Executive Director, Tulsa Authority for Economic Opportunity
The data center industry suffers from a severe "image problem" fueled by negative public coverage. The ‘NIMBY’ phenomenon is rising due to concerns over massive water and power consumption, visual impacts, and noise.
Now, as community pushback increases, companies are realizing they must proactively engage locals before breaking ground.
This debate will explore how data centers can strengthen their reputation, including:
- Strategies to educate the general public, sending a synchronous and consistent message
- How to leverage the talent gap to strengthen relationships with local communities
- How to deploy technology to make data centers the ‘’good neighbours’’