Data Centers and the “Wild West”: Power, Perception, and the Fight for Community Buy-In

In this episode of PlotLines, Britni sits down with Jeff Sturla, Vice President of Critical Facilities at Wohlsen Construction, to break down one of the most talked-about and misunderstood sectors in real estate today: data centers.With more than 45 years in construction and recent experience leading large-scale hyperscale data center projects, Jeff shares a boots-on-the-ground perspective on what’s driving explosive demand and why that growth isn’t slowing anytime soon.But while demand continues to surge, so does community resistance. Jeff explains where that pushback comes from, from outdated perceptions around water usage to legitimate concerns about infrastructure strain. He also highlights how newer data center designs are evolving rapidly, becoming more efficient and fundamentally different from even those built just a few years ago.The conversation also dives into what successful community engagement looks like, including early transparency, tailored messaging for diverse stakeholders, and a mindset shift from “building in a community” to becoming part of it.Jeff closes with a powerful takeaway: today’s data center boom is a structural shift, but without clearer regulation and stronger alignment between developers and policymakers, the industry risks remaining, in his words, a “Wild West.”Tune in for an inside look at the future of data center development and what it will take to scale it responsibly.