Loudoun County in Northern Virginia has long been the center of gravity for the data center industry. It is the home of Data Center Alley, a section of Ashburn where all the major networks meet, making it the world's primary destination for Internet traffic.

As a result, Loudoun County has been on the front lines of just about every major trend in the data center sector. That includes the data center boom, and more recently the controversies involving data centers and community pushback. There have been plenty of headlines about resistance to the data center industry, most notably the Loudoun supervisors calling for a pause in development as they refine local regulations.

But Loudoun County's history tells a larger story about data centers and communities. And no one knows this better than Buddy Rizer, the executive director of economic development for Loudoun County. In our discussion, I asked Buddy to talk about what data centers have meant to the Loudoun County, including some interest metrics on economic impact, and water usage by data centers (a hot topic these days).

00:00 - On the Front Lines of the Internet Boom
01:30 - How Data Center Alley Came About
05:16 - The Conversation Beyond Loudoun
07:27 - The Data Center Industry Response
09:00 - Data Centers and Water: The Loudoun Experience

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At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

VISIT OUR SITE:

Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

Loudoun County Economic Development
https://loudounpossible.com/

Buddy Rizer on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/buddyrizer/

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

The Godfather of Data Centers - WSJ
https://www.wsj.com/finance/the-godfather-of-data-centers-making-offers-big-tech-cant-refuse-6c52d301

The Next Data Center Constraint: Trust
https://www.datacenterfrontier.com/site-selection/podcast/55397375/the-next-data-center-constraint-trust

RELATED VIDEOS:

How Google Built the Future of Data Centers
https://youtu.be/F33oE34X0j4?si=WKOehcvCzUSEmLAi

Can Data Centers Be Good Neighbors?
https://youtu.be/syRpAj9aCSg?si=lWeQjlca2sfq7Fdt

Why Data Centers Are Moving to Power-Rich Locations
https://youtu.be/AlIwlsiLa5M?si=X4bHMu1s6Da-VOzy

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound
https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

Liquid cooling has become one of the most important technologies in the rise of AI. Powerful new AI server hardware throws off a lot of heat, pushing past the limits of most traditional air cooling. This has driven a surge of acquisitions in the cooling sector, and none bigger than Ecolab's $4.75 billion deal to acquire liquid cooling specialist CoolIT Systems.

In this episode of Data Center Richness, host Rich Miller sits down with Jason Walker, Director of Product Marketing for Data Centers at Ecolab, to break down the CoolIT acquisition.

Walker discusses how Ecolab is pairing decades of industrial fluid management with CoolIT's cold plates, CDUs, and manifolds to solve critical operational bottlenecks. Learn why fluid health and monitoring matter during commissioning, how joint R&D at CoolIT's 6MW Calgary facility aims to extend single-phase cooling limits for extreme densities, and how integrated hardware and chemistry simplify lifecycle operations for hyperscalers and multi-tenant colocation operators.

Here's an overview of the conversation:

00:00 - Introduction: The CoolIT Acquisition and AI Cooling
01:42 - Ecolab's Mission in Data Centers and Fluid Management
04:00 - Strategic Fit: Why Ecolab Acquired CoolIT
05:56 - Navigating Startup Risks and Direct-to-Chip Fluid Health
09:06 - In-Line Testing and 3D TRASAR Real-Time Monitoring
10:32 - Deploying Side-Stream Controllers and BMS Integration
12:09 - Connecting Hardware Monitoring and Fluid Data
13:40 - Integration Progress and Cultural Alignment Post-Close
16:40 - Calgary Testing Facility and Joint R&D Capabilities
19:28 - Extending Single-Phase Liquid Cooling Limits
23:01 - Customer Base: Hyperscalers vs. Colocation Operators
26:10 - Fluid Health and Multi-Tenant Hybrid Cooling Challenges
28:21 - Where to Connect with Jason Walker and Learn More

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At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

VISIT OUR SITE:

Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

Ecolab Data Center Solutions
https://www.ecolab.com

CoolIT Systems
https://www.coolitsystems.com

Jason Walker on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-j-walker-mba/

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

The Future of Liquid Cooling
https://youtu.be/JGL4Bi6Vrn4?si=d5UPjeEfEDu7qfFd

Liquid Cooling Has Finally Arrived
https://youtu.be/sZM6MZBOeho?si=HrDgXB345zn51-XL

A Closer Look at Two-Phase Liquid Cooling
https://youtu.be/w_Us94JgYzc?si=wMd1TUS7bMJjqjew

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound
https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

If you enjoyed this conversation, please like the video, leave your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe to Data Center Richness for deep dives into AI infrastructure, power, and high-density computing.

Building hyperscale data centers at the speed of AI comes with a massive challenge: taking care of the thousands of tradespeople on the front lines of construction sites. As project schedules compress and job sites push into remote locations, how do industry leaders build a culture that keeps workers safe, healthy, and genuinely supported?

In this episode of Data Center Richness podcast, we sit down with Trey Dean, Senior Vice President of Global EHS at Vantage Data Centers. Trey shares how Vantage is priotiizing site welfare, tracking workforce mental health with actionable data, and using AI and robotics to remove workers from high-risk duties., like moving giant racks

Here is an overview of the conversation between Rich Miller of Data Center Richness and Trey Dean.

00:00 -

01:30 - The Basics: A Safe, Clean Work Environment

07:15 - The Enormous Opportunity in Data Center Construction

08:50 - The Vantage Safety Summits

15:00 - Mental Health and Wellness on the Jobsite

23:10 - The Role of Robotics and AI in Worker Safety

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At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

VISIT OUR SITE:

Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

Trey Dean on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/treydeanhse/

Vantage Data Centers
https://vantage-dc.com/

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

Inside the Future of Data Center Construction
https://youtu.be/o0mfu_em4rg?si=_XwxeGAIniTc8InU

How Builders See Everything With Reality Capture
https://youtu.be/X-vB0POITIs?si=4CjfVAuBjd0wvCih

An Inside Look at the Data Center Development Journey
https://youtu.be/tp9tzLjurms

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

There's a big question at the heart of today's tech headlines: Is there an AI bubble? I sat down with someone who's been building data centers since 1997, and I found his answer really insightful.

That's Ron Vokoun. He's had 37 years in construction, most of it in digital infrastructure - fiber networks in the '90s, the first Qwest data centers, a stretch dedicated to prefab and modular builds, and now cooling as the Senior VIce President of Data Center Cooling at SVL Inc.

Ron has also become one of the most trusted voices curating data center news, first on LinkedIn, now with his Mission Critical Connections newsletter on Substack.

In this conversation, we get into why he thinks prefab is more important than ever due to the labor shortage in construction, how rack densities have blown past anything we saw coming, and his interesting answer on whether this AI buildout is a bubble, and what's actually keeping it in check.

Here's an overview of the discussion between Data Center Richness host Rich Miller and Ron Vokoun:

00:00 - On the front lines of construction, design, cooling and data center news curation

01:00 - Ron Vokoun's Data Center Journey

05:30 - The Evolution of Modular and PreFab Designs

07:00 - From Construction to Cooling

10:00 - The Pace of Change in the AI Era

14:00 - The Key to Good Business News Curation

17:40 - The AI Boom, and Ron's Take on "Bubble"

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At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

VISIT OUR SITE:

Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

Ron Vokoun on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronvokoun/

SVL Data Center Cooling
https://dcc.svl.com/

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

Inside the Future of Data Center Construction
https://youtu.be/o0mfu_em4rg?si=_XwxeGAIniTc8InU

How Builders See Everything With Reality Capture
https://youtu.be/X-vB0POITIs?si=4CjfVAuBjd0wvCih

An Inside Look at the Data Center Development Journey
https://youtu.be/tp9tzLjurms

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

Demand for data center space is hitting all-time records. That is creating a major boom in data center construction, including more projects and larger campuses.

How does the industry keep track of all this construction? For more than 1,000 data center projects, the answer is OpenSpace, a technology company that provides visual intelligence on construction job sites. Its platform uses 360-degree cameras, smartphones and drones to create a digital record of the project that can be updated in real time.

OpenSpace packages this "reality capture" visual data in apps that offer a remote overview of the project, giving owners, general contractors, and subcontractors a shared visual record of every corner of these massive sites, updated continuously as work progresses.

OpenSpace CEO Jeevan Kalanithi joins us for a fascinating discussion about his company's platform and the role of technology in construction.

Here's an overview of the discussion between host Rich Miller and Jeevan Kalanithi:

00:00 - How Technology is Transforming Data Center Construction

02:55 - Jeevan's Background and Entrepreneurial Journey

05:30 - How OpenSpace Models a Construction Site

09:20 - How the Data s Collected and Delivered

12:45 - Data Center Delivery and the Labor Talent Challenge

21:10 - The Human Component - Feedback from Contractors

27:40 - The Tech Required for a Global Video Enterprise

31:20 - The Road Ahead for Construction Tech

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At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

VISIT OUR SITE:

Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

OpenSpace
https://www.openspace.ai/

OpenSpace on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/openspace.ai/posts/?feedView=all

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

Inside the Future of Data Center Construction
https://youtu.be/o0mfu_em4rg?si=BnPSEnb-K3rN01D7

An Inside Look at the Data Center Development Journey
https://youtu.be/tp9tzLjurms

How AI Finds More Electricity for Data Centers
https://youtu.be/OcxupZZsGj0?si=OArBPdq-nxzC84ES

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound
https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

Inside the Future of Data Center Construction

Demand for data center capacity has never been higher. But building a data center is a complex undertaking, involving global supply chains and local contractors. As the industry seeks to build super-sized data center campuses, there are reports that a growing number of projects are falling behind schedule.

So what's the state of data center construction? To find out, we speak with Doug Mouton, who for many years worked with construction teams building data centers for Microsoft and Meta. Doug and host Rich Miller discuss the complexities of building at AI scale, and the supply chain and staffing challenges faced by large campus projects.

Doug is particularly focused on worker safety on job sites. Although data center construction teams have reduced the number of safety incidents, there is more work to do, especially on mental health and wellness for a workforce facing constant pressure on delivery schedules.

Doug is also deeply connected as an advisor and board member in the sector, and shares his takes on capital, the risks of geography and silicon, how inference may guide where projects get built, and how power influences the entire market.

Here's an overview of our discussion:

00:00 - Data Center Construction in the Spotlight

02:30 - Doug Mouton's Data Center Journey

06:40 - Data Center Delivery at AI Scale

10:24 - Data Center Safety: Stats and Solutions

18:40 - The Role of Capital in Data Center Development

23:40 - Training and Inference, and How it Shapes Digital Geography

32:00 - The Role of Power in Data Center Growth

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At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

VISIT OUR SITE:

Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

Doug Mouton on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-mouton/

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

An Inside Look at the Data Center Development Journey
https://youtu.be/tp9tzLjurms

How AI Finds More Electricity for Data Centers
https://youtu.be/OcxupZZsGj0?si=OArBPdq-nxzC84ES

Solid-State Transformers and the Future of AI
https://youtu.be/fyN9_9wz-3M

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound
https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

The transformer is a key component of power delivery, but its core design dates to the 19th century. A number of startups are working to build a better transformer using software-defined power electronics that are ready for the AI era.

One of those companies is DG Matrix. It focuses on solid-state transformers, which are emerging as as a critical piece of the infrastructure for next-generation AI data center. DG Matrix CEO and cofounder Haroon Inam joins us to discuss solid-state transformers, and how a multi-port design can provide new options for savings and efficiency in the data center power chain.

Here's an overview of our conversation:

00:00 - Why Power Transformers Are Ripe for Disruption

01:05 - Haroon Inam's Journey in Power Electronics

04:15 - Types of Transformers and Their Availability

07:15 - Why Multi-Port SSTs Matter

15:00 - How Can SSTs Help Data Centers?

18:00 - The DG Matrix Offering

22:45 - SSTs and the 800 VDC Transition

25:15 - What the 800 VDC Shift May Look Like

32:30 - What Are the Challenges to SST Adoption

37:00 - Partnerships with Exowatt and InfraPartners

40:00 - The Road Ahead for DG Matrix

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At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

NOW ON SUBSTACK!

Check out the Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

On the Web:
Data Center Richness
https://datacenterpodcast.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

DG Matrix
https://www.dgmatrix.com/

Solid-State Transformers Could Reshape the Future of AI
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/p/solid-state-transformers-could-reshape

Haroon Inam on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/harooninam/

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

Solid-State Transformers and the Future of AI
https://youtu.be/fyN9_9wz-3M

Exowatt: The Solar Startup Aiming to Transform Data Centers
https://youtu.be/KPdI5OW-TUw?si=8a10IaGZGQAcbWEF

Data Centers, AI and the Future of Power
https://youtu.be/EYo2YK7L5q0?si=u6kDairimGUARt3b

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

Can electric vehicles, solar panels and smart thermostats in homes help free up more grid power for data centers? This concept that has been turning in recent months as the data center power crunch has become more challenging.

The concept known as a virtual power plant or VPP. It's a collection of small energy sources that are brought together to create a large energy asset, which can be managed to help support the power grid in moments of high usage. The owners of homes and vehicles get paid for the energy they share back to the grid.

Our guest today is Elisa Wood, an expert in distributed energy who can help us understand virtual power plants, and how they work. Elisa has been covering the energy sector for many years. She's the founder of Energy Changemakers, where she reports on the future of distributed energy.

I asked Elisa to join us because in recent months we've seen a growing push to tap unutilized energy that exists on power grids. It turned out to be a timely conversation. Literally while we were taping our podcast, Google announced a groundbreaking deal with VPP provider Voltus Energy, which marks the first time that a data center operator has worked with a VPP provider.

Their agreement is structured as a "Bring Your Own Capacity" deal, which will unlock 100 megawatts of new capacity on the PJM Interconnection, which serves 67 million customers in the Eastern half of the country. The location is notable because the PJM grid is facing capacity constraints, as well as a huge influx of data center projects.

Given the importance of the deal between Google and Voltus, Elisa rejoined me to share her take on the landmark deal and its significance. In today's episode you'll hear parts of both our conversations, which we've edited together to provide a solid understanding of virtual power plants and why they matter.
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At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW :

Energy Changemakers (Elisa's Community)
https://energychangemakers.com/

Elisa Wood on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisawood/

Google and Voltus Announce Bring Your Own Capacity Agreement
https://www.voltus.co/press/voltus-google-bring-your-own-capacity-pjm

Voltus Energy
https://www.voltus.co/

RELATED VIDEO:

Voltus: Data Centers Can Bring Their Own Energy
https://youtu.be/pG2vRhn2eTQ?si=8qS5p053oH121i8X

Data Centers, AI and the Future of Power
https://youtu.be/EYo2YK7L5q0?si=8xgKEabduuqwdNzw

Fixing the AI Power Gap
https://youtu.be/uwNa5dZfo90?si=heU4h2wWujvbyK2X

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound.