Joshua Feinberg and Emil Sayegh discuss the evolving landscape of data center development, emphasizing the need for comprehensive stakeholder engagement.
Joshua notes the increased complexity in gaining approvals, now involving planners, utility companies, regulators, and the public.
He highlights the unique challenge of promoting small modular nuclear reactors for powering data centers.
Sayegh underscores the importance of marketing and community relations, focusing on sustainability and local benefits.
He mentions that data centers create fewer permanent jobs and generate significant construction employment.
He also suggests highlighting specific community advantages, such as medical imaging or autonomous farming technology, to build trust and support for data center projects.
This video is excerpted from the podcast Ep. #62 Emil Sayegh, Serial Tech and Data Center CEO of Profit Growth Insights | Data Center Go-to-Market Podcast.
Action Items
- Educate stakeholders, including planners, utility companies, regulators, and the general public, on the role and value of data centers beyond just technical specifications.
- Develop a community engagement and trust-building strategy for data center projects.
- Identify and communicate the specific benefits that data centers can bring to local communities, such as job opportunities, new businesses, and technological advancements.
Outline
Challenges in Data Center Development and Community Engagement
- Joshua Feinberg highlights the increased complexity of gaining approvals for data centers, which now involve planners, utility companies, regulators, and the general public.
- He emphasizes the need for a new kind of education and conversation to convince stakeholders about the benefits of small modular nuclear reactors for powering data centers.
- Emil Sayegh discusses the role of marketers and go-to-market organizations in building trust within the community and focusing on sustainability and community benefits.
- Emil mentions that while data center jobs may not create many permanent positions, they do generate significant construction jobs.
- He provides examples of how data centers can bring specific benefits to local communities, such as medical imaging companies or autonomous farming technology in rural areas.
Resources
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