Power, planning, and the future of digital infrastructure, with Amy Polvado

S1E12 episode overview

As surging compute demands transform data centers from abstract real estate properties into massive energy assets, traditional development frameworks are falling short. 

In this episode of Watt Matters, Ana sits down with Amy Polvado, Founder and CEO of Facilimax and chairwoman of the US Proptech Council, to break down how traditional real estate assumptions fall short in data center development and why accurate infrastructure data and tools like digital twins are essential to de‑risking decisions and accelerating delivery.

What you’ll learn in this episode

• How power grid constraints and interconnection queues are shaping data center timelines.

• Why on‑site generation and redundancy planning are central to project success.

• The importance of real‑time infrastructure data for site selection and risk reduction.

• Opportunities in repurposing smaller or existing facilities for edge computing.

• The role of regulatory frameworks in managing explosive infrastructure demand.

• How digital twin technology supports planning, simulation, and operational readiness.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and Amy’s background

03:10 – From real estate to digital infrastructure

08:45 – Site selection challenges: power, fiber, mineral rights

15:30 – Power interconnection and generation realities

22:50 – Market dynamics, pre‑leasing, and demand

29:15 – Regulatory efforts and infrastructure data gaps

36:00 – Sustainability and resilience in data center planning

42:30 – Future trends: AI, edge sites, retrofitting

49:00 – Closing reflections and takeaways