Developers Weigh In
An article at Construction Dive looks at the data center backlash through a set of eyes frequently omitted from the public debates — those of the builders who construct the projects.
The political discussion often focuses on how to slow, regulate, or stop data center construction, and community concerns focus on proximity to people an environmental concerns. For developers, the approach is focused on problem-solving. HITT Contracting CEO Kim Roy told Construction Dive that “You have to be an active listener…. What’s the issue, and let’s address it.”
While the picture for future development is murky, Construction Dive reports that “contractors with awards in the sector aren’t sounding the alarms yet. In fact, though a number of contractors say they are putting more attention toward addressing community pushback on projects, demand for these builds hasn’t waned.”
No Moratorium in New Kent, No Carte Blanche to Build
A
report from WRIC on the decision by the New Kent Board of Supervisors to nix a proposed two-year moratorium on data center construction in the county provides some insights on the nuances of the discussion.
Citing a Facebook post by Commissioner Amy Person, the story reports her saying: “Voting against the proposed two-year moratorium on data centers was not a vote to approve a data center…. The goal is not to make data centers easier to approve. The goal is to make sure that if one is ever proposed, New Kent has strong, legally defensible rules to protect its residents, water resources, rural character, roads, public services, and residents/taxpayers.”
The report also notes that the “board also declared a strong policy preference that no data center applications be filed or advanced while the county develops regulations and standards for data centers.”
Let the Sun Shine In?
In the world of renewable energy, solar is a mainstay of hope for clean energy. The technology has struggled to be a major player in the energy sector, however, though adoption is rising. According to the
U.S. Energy Information Administration, solar accounted for slightly more than 6 percent of U.S. energy production in 2025, up from 5 percent the year before.
The key to developing more solar is to create more-efficient panels, something research scientists have been chasing for some time. They may be on the verge of a breakthrough.
According to an article in the
New York Times, “tandem solar” is within reach. The technology “involves adding second and third layers of material, like a layer cake, to allow panels to convert more of the sun’s radiance into electricity,” according to the article, and produces about 25 percent more energy than traditional solar panels.
However, technical and political challenges remain. “Power producers will be reluctant to buy new devices that are too expensive or until manufacturers can convince them that tandem panels will not degrade more quickly than conventional panels,” according to the article.
Politically, there are two challenges. The “
Trump administration have made it hard for new solar farms to obtain federal permits while trying to increase the use of fossil fuels and nuclear power plants. Then there is China, which controls about 80 percent of the solar panel market by supplying either panels or their components.”
