The Data Center Frontier Show

AI is reshaping the data center industry faster than any prior wave of demand. Power needs are rising, communities are paying closer attention, and grid timelines are stretching. On the latest episode of The Data Center Frontier Show, Page Haun of Cologix explains what sustainability really looks like in the AI era, and why it has become a core design requirement, not a side initiative. Haun describes today’s moment as a “perfect storm,” where AI-driven growth meets grid constraints, community scrutiny, and regulatory pressure. The industry is responding through closer collaboration among operators, utilities, and governments, sharing long-term load forecasts and infrastructure plans. But one challenge remains: communication. Data centers still struggle to explain their essential role in the digital economy, from healthcare and education to entertainment and AI services. Cologix’s Montreal 8 facility, which recently achieved LEED Gold certification, shows how sustainable design is becoming standard practice. The project focused on energy efficiency, water conservation, responsible materials, and reduced waste, lowering both environmental impact and operating costs. Those lessons now shape how Cologix approaches future builds. High-density AI changes everything inside the building. Liquid cooling is becoming central because it delivers tighter thermal control with better efficiency, but flexibility is the real priority. Facilities must support multiple cooling approaches so they don’t become obsolete as hardware evolves. Water stewardship is just as critical. Cologix uses closed-loop systems that dramatically reduce consumption, achieving an average WUE of 0.203, far below the industry norm. Sustainability also starts with where you build. In Canada, Cologix leverages hydropower in Montreal and deep lake water cooling in Toronto. In California, natural air cooling cuts energy use. Where geography doesn’t help, partnerships do. In Ohio, Cologix is deploying onsite fuel cells to operate while new transmission lines are built, covering the full cost so other utility customers aren’t burdened. Community relationships now shape whether projects move forward. Cologix treats communities as long-term partners, not transactions, by holding town meetings, working with local leaders, and supporting programs like STEM education, food drives, and disaster relief. Transparency ties it all together. In its 2024 ESG report, Cologix reported 65% carbon-free energy use, strong PUE and WUE performance, and expanded environmental certifications. As AI scales, openness about impact is becoming a competitive advantage. Haun closed with three non-negotiables for AI-era data centers: flexible power and cooling design, holistic resource management, and a real plan for renewable energy, backed by strong community engagement. In the age of AI, sustainability isn’t a differentiator anymore. It’s the baseline.

Axel Bokiba, General Manager of Data Center Cooling at Moog, shares his expertise in liquid cooling solutions for hyperscale data centers. He highlights the critical need for liquid cooling due to high heat loads and outlines how it revolutionizes data center architecture with direct-to-chip methods. Axel discusses the reliability challenges of pumps, emphasizing the expectation of 99.999% reliability for hyperscalers. He also stresses the importance of rigorous component testing and Moog's partnerships for domestic sourcing, ensuring resilience in the supply chain.

In this discussion, Kevin Ooley, CFO of DataBank, offers insights into financing strategies amid the AI boom. He reveals how they've increased their development credit facility from $725 million to $1.6 billion, showcasing lender confidence in data centers. Ooley elaborates on the innovative 'DevCo facility' designed to streamline project financing across various stages. With nearly 20 projects in key U.S. markets and a focus on balancing growth with prudent leverage, he highlights the importance of proximity and reliability for their enterprise and hyperscale customers.

The data center industry is undergoing a transformation driven by AI and power scarcity. Site selection is now focused on power availability rather than just land. Developers are shifting towards Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets to find better energy solutions. The conversation highlights that entitlement processes are tightening, requiring higher design standards and community engagement. The panelists stress the importance of building credibility through transparency and proven delivery in this evolving landscape.

The discussion dives into the transformation of data centers in the AI era, highlighting the rise of AI factories that prioritize power efficiency and adaptability. Panelists emphasize the shift towards high-density racks, with demands exceeding 50 kilowatts, necessitating new infrastructure designs. The conversation also explores how this trend is encouraging development in underutilized markets, driven by the massive power requirements for AI workloads. The need for flexibility in design and the rapid evolution of technology are key themes throughout.

The discussion dives into the evolving landscape of data centers, emphasizing the shift towards edge facilities to accommodate AI workloads. Panelists explore how rising power densities are transforming rack designs, pushing beyond traditional limits. The emergence of hospitals and regional enterprises as key players shapes this new distributed infrastructure. Connectivity challenges also emerge as a critical issue, with site selection increasingly impacted by permitting delays and fiber constraints.

Max Smolaks, a research analyst at the Uptime Institute, dives into the evolution of AI data centers, explaining how former crypto miners are repurposing underused power sources. He discusses the shift towards specialized, denser rack designs and the inevitable trend of liquid cooling, despite operator resistance. Aligning the industry on 800V DC distribution, he highlights NVIDIA's influence on new designs. Smolaks also touches upon the economic implications of fluctuating AI loads and the potential sustainability of the current AI boom.

Power is the new limiting factor for data centers, with the grid struggling to keep up with skyrocketing demand. Natural gas has evolved from a controversial option to a reliable energy source for large-scale operations. The panel discusses the importance of firm fuel and financeable infrastructure to ensure reliability in energy supply. Operators are now prioritizing expertise in power generation, partnering with seasoned developers to enhance capacity and resilience. Key technology choices, such as the use of reciprocating engines, are explored to optimize performance.

Michael Thomas, Regional Vice President of Integration Services at Network Connect, shares his expertise in ILA facilities. He explains how these compact huts function as mini data centers, enhancing fiber connectivity over long distances. Delve into the complexities of site selection and the factors influencing deployment, including geology and permitting. Discover the rising demand from hyperscalers and colocation providers, and learn how ILAs are transforming rural connectivity and creating new revenue streams. Tune in for fascinating insights into the future of fiber transport!

In this panel session from the 2025 Data Center Frontier Trends Summit (Aug. 26-28) in Reston, Va., JLL’s Sean Farney moderates a high-energy panel on how the industry is fast-tracking AI capacity in a world of power constraints, grid delays, and record-low vacancy. Under the banner “Scaling AI: The Role of Adaptive Reuse and Power-Rich Sites in GPU Deployment,” the discussion dives into why U.S. colocation vacancy is hovering near 2%, how power has become the ultimate limiter on AI revenue, and what it really takes to stand up GPU-heavy infrastructure at speed. Schneider Electric’s Lovisa Tedestedt, Aligned Data Centers’ Phill Lawson-Shanks, and Sapphire Gas Solutions’ Scott Johns unpack the real-world strategies they’re deploying today—from adaptive reuse of industrial sites and factory-built modular systems, to behind-the-fence natural gas, microgrids, and emerging hydrogen and RNG pathways. Along the way, they explore the coming “AI inference edge,” the rebirth of the enterprise data center, and how AI is already being used to optimize data center design and operations. During this talk, you’ll learn: * Why record-low vacancy and long interconnection queues are reshaping AI deployment strategy. * How adaptive reuse of legacy industrial and commercial real estate can unlock gigawatt-scale capacity and community benefits. * The growing role of liquid cooling, modular skids, and grid-to-chip efficiency in getting more power to GPUs. * How behind-the-meter gas, virtual pipelines, and microgrids are bridging multi-year grid delays. * Why many experts expect a renaissance of enterprise data centers for AI inference at the edge. Moderator: Sean Farney, VP, Data Centers, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) Panelists: Tony Grayson, General Manager, Northstar Lovisa Tedestedt, Strategic Account Executive – Cloud & Service Providers, Schneider Electric Phill Lawson-Shanks, Chief Innovation Officer, Aligned Data Centers Scott Johns, Chief Commercial Officer, Sapphire Gas Solutions