AI Infrastructure - Boom and Backlash

Data center builds are facing challenges, not only from energy supply and supply chains, but also from increasing community pushback. Analysts Tony Lenoir and Matthew Richesin join host Eric Hanselman to preview a webinar that they'll be presenting that explores wide ranging actions that being raised against data center construction and the concerns that are driving them. The traditional industry practice of "Design, announce, defend", where the build is presumed onto the community, is being reworked to include community engagement at the initial stages of a project. There are a number of regulatory strictures that are in place and more pending as a political dynamic around data centers grows in a fractious campaign season. All of these aspects are intertwined with societal concerns about technology and AI's impacts. As has happened with earlier technology innovations, where the ramifications of new developments aren't fully understood, there will be many who are concerned about the implications of rapid, unchecked adoption. Data centers have become emblematic of this change and a lightning rod for discussion. Join the webinar to get the full story! More S&P Global Content: Join the webinar: AI Infrastructure webinar 2026 Trends in Data Center Services & Infrastructure New data center legislation roundup, April 2026 The sustainability risks threatening AI's resilience narrative For S&P Global subscribers: US data center growth: Impact on communities 101 An evolving data center industry calls for creative modifications to early-stage negotiations Balancing data center growth and regulation: Florida's legislative conundrum Host/Author: Eric Hanselman Guests: Tony Lenoir and Matthew Richesin Producer/Editor: Dylan Scheible