The Weekly Take from CBRE Powerhouse: The Future of Data Centers
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Aug 19, 2025 Gordon Dolven, Director of America's Data Center Research at CBRE, and Maja Rosenquist, EVP at Mortenson with decades of construction experience, dive into the booming data center sector. They discuss how AI is reshaping site selection strategies and the crucial need for scalable power. The shift in lease structures focusing on power usage reflects the surging market demands, while rising investment from infrastructure funds signals robust growth ahead. They also tackle construction challenges and innovative approaches to meet the needs of this dynamic industry.
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Water Use Compared To Farming
- Gordon compared a proposed 200-acre data center's potable water need of ~3,500 gallons/day to far larger agricultural use.
- He used the comparison to show data centers can use less potable water than alternative land uses.
Win Communities With Tax Benefits
- Emphasize tax and infrastructure benefits to gain local community buy-in for data centers.
- Show how projects fund roads, services, and recurring tax revenue to overcome job-count concerns.
Nuclear As Long-Term Option
- Nuclear is discussed as part of long-term energy strategies but not a short-term fix.
- The industry sees nuclear more as a future complement to renewables than an immediate solution.