Analyst says many announced data center projects may never be built

Ascend Analytics' Brent Nelson told TechCrunch Equity that an inflated pipeline means only a fraction of data center projects will be built.

TechCrunch's Equity podcast examined why many announced data center projects may never be built. Brent Nelson of Ascend Analytics told hosts Rebecca Bellan and Tim De Chant that the pipeline is inflated by local opposition, permitting delays, and electricity constraints. He said only a fraction of proposed projects will be built, and that wrong tenants could leave developers exposed if an infrastructure bubble bursts. The discussion also covered permitting reform, winter limits of natural gas as a fallback, and pairing batteries with temporarily curtailable grid connections. It is a podcast analysis, not a cancellation announcement, and describes billions of dollars in AI infrastructure investment as at stake.