Versatile public health professional, climate and senior leader, working diligently to advance environmental sustainability through well-designed, evidence-based policies, systems and programs that address environmental, health, social and economic inequities.
SESSION
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Thu, May 21, 2026
Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino, Celebrity 1 & 2
Data Centers: The Conversation Cities Are Having Internally
This is the conversation almost every city and county is having right now, often without admitting it publicly. On one side: economic development teams, mayors, and council members who see data centers as a once-in-a-generation jobs-and-tax-base opportunity. On the other side: the same jurisdiction's sustainability staff, water utilities, and grid planners watching energy demand triple and water consumption escalate, often in already-stressed regions. Dr. Michael Shank will lead a working session on how to navigate this disagreement constructively.