Data Centers Decoded Q&A Series

Top minds in the data centers industry answer the questions shaping development — from power constraints and permitting to sustainability and outlooks on rising trends.

Katlyn A. Davis Farrell

What is one policy, regulatory or permitting change that would make the biggest difference in accelerating responsible data center development?

2 min

At the Federal level, the single biggest accelerator would be a clear, consistent framework for interconnecting large loads to the grid – one that gives developers, utilities and…

Read more What is one policy, regulatory or permitting change that would make the biggest difference in accelerating responsible data center development?

Gregory A. Riegle

Power is now one of the defining constraints in data center development. What are you seeing developers, utilities, investors or hyperscalers do differently to keep projects moving?

4 min

Power has become the defining challenge in data center development. U.S. data center power demand is projected to increase from approximately 31 gigawatts in 2025 to 41 GW…

Read more Power is now one of the defining constraints in data center development. What are you seeing developers, utilities, investors or hyperscalers do differently to keep projects moving?

Gregory A. Riegle

What is one policy, regulatory or permitting change that would make the biggest difference in accelerating responsible data center development?

3 min

The greatest opportunity is creating a more predictable permitting process. The federal government took an important step in July 2025 by issuing an Executive Order designed to accelerate…

Read more What is one policy, regulatory or permitting change that would make the biggest difference in accelerating responsible data center development?

Gregory A. Riegle

Speed, scale and sustainability are all under pressure. How should the industry balance rapid growth with expectations around power, water, emissions and community impact?

3 min

Balancing rapid growth with sustainability has become one of the defining challenges for the data center industry. Data centers are no longer viewed solely as technology or real…

Read more Speed, scale and sustainability are all under pressure. How should the industry balance rapid growth with expectations around power, water, emissions and community impact?