By Chris Crosby | Utility Dive
Chris Crosby is CEO of Compass Datacenters, a Dallas-based data center developer.
We at Compass Datacenters have closely followed the discussion around the increasing power demands of data centers and read with interest the Harvard Law study recently released asserting that demand is being serviced on the backs of consumers.
The study draws a compelling picture, and we acknowledge the challenges presented by existing regulatory frameworks. However, Compass Datacenters believes that there’s one key shortcoming of the paper, in that it lumps all data center developers into one category when, in reality, not all developers are created equal.
There’s a gold rush or dot-com mentality in our space right now. Speculative developers are coming out of the woodwork to flip a piece of powered land for profit. These aren’t real projects, complete with solid financing and tenants waiting in the wings. I’ve been in the business of data center development for decades and I’ve never seen anything quite like it.
Jordan Rose, founder and president other Rose Law Group who represents multiple data center developers and end users, tells RLGR: “Collaboration between the data center industry and utilities will lead to innovation not only in who pays for power but how we can procure power more quickly into the future. This is the future.”
