On November 11, 2026, TechCrunch hosts Rebecca Bellan and Tim De Chant released a 31‑minute Equity podcast episode featuring Brent Nelson, senior managing director of markets and strategy at Ascend Analytics. The trio examined why many announced data‑center projects, despite billions of dollars in AI infrastructure investment, may never be built because of local opposition, permitting delays, and electricity constraints. Their discussion highlighted the need for investors and developers to differentiate realistic projects from speculative announcements immediately.
If speculative data‑center projects receive funding, capital could be misallocated, inflating construction costs and straining power grids in regions already facing supply challenges. Accurate project vetting will shape the pace of AI infrastructure rollout and influence the valuation of data‑center REITs and related supply‑chain firms.