u/HxxP185

Anyone else see Boom is using their aircraft engine tech to build gas turbines for AI data centers?

Maybe dumb question, but how much of a jet engine actually translates to something that’s supposed to run 24/7? Seems like a totally different use case.

Curious what engineers here think.
Has anyone here talked with them? What’s your take on it?

Is anyone else planning to take this course this fall?

Or Has anyone taken it previously?

What does the workload look like (homework, exams, projects)?

Are there any textbooks or online resources you’d recommend reviewing before the semester starts?

I’d also love to connect with other students taking the course so we can discuss the material or even start a study group before classes begin.

Maybe it’s just me, but this pattern is getting hard to ignore.

Every time a new data center gets announced, within what feels like days there’s a polished website, coordinated social media posts, professionally printed signs, talking points, petitions, media interviews, lawyers, and packed public meetings.

How does that happen so fast?

I’m supposed to believe dozens of neighbors independently became experts on transmission lines, water usage, noise studies, tax incentives, diesel emissions, and grid infrastructure overnight?

Some of these campaigns look like they have full-time project managers.

I’m not saying people shouldn’t oppose projects if they genuinely don’t want them in their community. That’s their right. But it feels like there’s almost always an organization behind the scenes helping coordinate everything.

Who’s funding it? Who’s writing the messaging? Who’s providing the technical information? Is it environmental groups, political organizations, competing business interests or something else?

Because from the outside, these don’t always look like spontaneous grassroots movements they often look like well-funded, well-organized campaigns from day one?

Data centers are rapidly becoming one of the most important pieces of U.S. infrastructure. Some estimates suggest the data center sector could approach 2% of U.S. GDP this year when accounting for direct and related economic activity. If that’s even close to accurate, then widespread project cancellations or years-long delays aren’t just a local zoning issue they could have meaningful impacts on investment, job creation, tax revenues, AI competitiveness and the broader economy.

I'm exploring the idea of starting a data center strategy and development consulting practice and would love to hear from anyone who has gone down this path or used services.

A little background on me:

- BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering
- 10 patents
- 13 years in the data center industry
- Uptime institute certified ATD and CDCDP
- Currently a VP of Engineering for a data center developer
- Previously spent 5 years with a neocloud provider and have also worked with AWS and NTT

The consulting services I'm considering would focus on:
- Land due diligence
- Power due diligence and utility strategy
- Site selection
- Engineering and design strategy
- Construction and execution strategy
- Owner's representative/advisory services

If you have any insights from consulting POV:

- What services are seeing the strongest demand?
- How did you land your first few clients?
- Are most opportunities coming through personal networks, developers, investors, utilities, hyperscalers, or brokers?
- Any lessons learned or things you'd do differently if starting over?

Appreciate any insights.