Agenda

Session Descriptions

• Keynote

  8:40 – 9:20 AM

  Dr. Noah Goldstein, PhD, is the sustainability lead for Google Data Center Construction. His work focuses on developing and implementing cross-functional strategy to support corporate goals at local and global scales, using the supply chain as a nexus of change. Dr. Goldstein is a strong advocate for industry-wide collaboration on sustainability.

  

• Data Center Policy Round Up

  Policy is shaping the future of data center development — and the conversation starts here.

  From grid regulation to land use and beyond, this session will unpack the policy landscape shaping how and where data centers can grow. If you want to understand the regulatory forces driving the industry, you won’t want to miss this one.

  

• Alternate Delivery Strategies for High-Speed, Low-Impact Data Centers

  9:45 – 10:35 AM

  Globally, data center operators are navigating the same pressures: power availability constraints, long lead times, rising energy costs, and growing expectations for low-carbon performance. While these challenges are well known, what’s missing is a coordinated, repeatable way for industry, utilities, municipalities, and policymakers to work through them together.

  This session shares insights from a first-of-its-kind collaboration designed to surface the most pressing barriers to sustainable data center development alongside the opportunities to address them more effectively. We will highlight where alignment is emerging, where gaps persist, and how a more structured, cross-sector approach could unlock faster, more sustainable deployment. Attendees will gain a clearer picture of where the biggest opportunities lie for improving coordination, reducing bottlenecks, and advancing low-carbon solutions without slowing down business growth.

  

• Future-Ready Data Centers: Energy Strategies for Demand, Resilience, and Sustainability

  10:55 – 11:45 AM

  The data center industry must rethink how facilities are powered, protected, and scaled for the future. This panel brings together experts from engineering, grid operations, local government, infrastructure innovation, and energy management to examine strategies for balancing growth with resilience and sustainability.

  Panelists will discuss grid constraints, emerging energy solutions, regulatory considerations, and decarbonization pathways and offer a forward-looking view on how data centers can remain reliable, flexible, and responsible to balance supply and demand.

  

• Scaling Sustainably: Materials Innovation for Efficient & Resilient Data Centers

  11:45 AM – 12:35 PM

  Material selection and procurement play a critical role in achieving efficiency, resilience, and sustainability at scale. This session will explore how materials innovation can reduce embodied carbon, improve performance, and support long-term adaptability.

  Panelists will share insights on emerging products, lifecycle impacts, supply chain considerations, and practical strategies for integrating sustainable materials without compromising speed, reliability, or cost in next-generation data center projects.

  

• Lunch Roundtable Discussions

  12:35 – 1:50

  Join these organizations for focused group conversations during the lunch break:

  

• From Perception to Performance: The Reality of Data Center Water Use

  2:05 – 2:55 PM

  Public concern around data center water use is growing, but how does perception compare to reality? This panel examines how water is actually consumed, managed, and reduced across modern data center projects. Experts from design, development, technology, and infrastructure will discuss cooling strategies, emerging water-saving innovations, regional constraints, and transparent reporting.

  Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of where water risks truly lie, and how thoughtful design and operational choices can improve performance while addressing community and sustainability expectations.

  

• Reimagining Possibilities: Strategies and Realities for Adaptive Reuse and Legacy Data Center Modernization

  2:55 – 3:45 PM

  Data center owners are increasingly looking to existing assets for speed, value, and sustainability. This panel explores the opportunities and challenges of adaptive reuse and legacy data center modernization.

  Industry leaders will share real-world insights on upgrading aging facilities, repurposing non-traditional buildings, and balancing performance, efficiency, and resiliency with cost and schedule constraints. The discussion will highlight when reuse makes sense, where limitations remain, and how thoughtful modernization can extend asset life while reducing environmental impact.

  

• More Than Megawatts: Community-Centered Approaches to Data Center Development

  4:05 – 4:55 PM

  Data center development is no longer defined by solely by megawatts; it is increasingly shaped by community impact, trust, and long-term partnership. This panel will explore community-centered approaches to data center growth.

  Panelists will discuss stakeholder engagement, land use, local benefits, infrastructure integration, and strategies for aligning data center projects with unique community priorities. Attendees will gain practical insights into building facilities that deliver economic value while fostering transparency, resilience, and lasting community relationships.