Podcasts discuss data center projects may struggle to break ground due to opposition and permitting hurdles
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On November 12, 2026, TechCrunch's Equity podcast released two related episodes, both featuring Brent Nelson, Senior Managing Director of Market and Strategy at Ascend Analytics, analyzing the real obstacles facing the data center boom. The first report noted that data center projects face local opposition, permitting delays, and power shortages; Nelson believes the project pipeline is severely inflated, that many announced projects will ultimately never be built, and suggested Democrats push permitting reform now. He also pointed out that natural gas is not a reliable backup under extreme winter weather, and that battery storage paired with grid connections that can be temporarily curtailed during periods of high demand could be used instead. The second report further emphasized that distinguishing pragmatic from speculative projects is crucial for the billions of dollars being invested in AI infrastructure. The two reports are consistent, with no contradictory information.
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- TechCrunch · AIWhy the data center you dread might never even be built
TechCrunch's Equity podcast hosted Brent Nelson, senior managing director of markets and strategy at Ascend Analytics, to analyze which data center projects are likely to get built and which may never break ground. The current data center boom faces real obstacles including local opposition, permitting delays and power shortages, while many announced projects may never be built at all — distinguishing pragmatic from speculative projects is critical for the billions of dollars flowing into AI infrastructure.
- TechCrunch · AIHow backlash and red tape continue to slow data centers post-Blue Wave
TechCrunch's Equity podcast hosted Brent Nelson, senior managing director of markets and strategy at Ascend Analytics, to analyze the real obstacles facing the data center boom: local opposition, permitting delays and power shortages. He argues the data center project pipeline is significantly inflated, with many announced projects never getting built, and advises Democrats to push permitting reform now. He also notes natural gas is not a reliable backup in extreme winter weather, pointing instead to battery storage paired with grid connections that can be curtailed during peak demand.
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