What if the debate over data centers is really part of a much bigger story about AI, energy, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and America's future?
In Episode 84 of the KillerGrowth Podcast, Sam sits down with Heath Jeppson, cybersecurity analyst and author of The Cloud Has Hit the Ground and The Death of a BANANA Republic.
Heath's career has taken him from the Marine Corps and industrial trades to FEMA disaster recovery, federal IT, industrial control systems, and cybersecurity work involving water, wastewater, power, and other critical infrastructure.
That background eventually led him into the rapidly growing debate surrounding data centers. Heath explains why he believes the conversation shouldn't simply be “for” or “against,” but should focus on how projects are built, how much water and power they use, how infrastructure is protected, and whether developers become genuine long-term community partners.
They dig into America's electrical grid, AI's rapidly increasing computing demands, water and cooling technology, cybersecurity, community trust, and why Heath compares today's AI competition to an arms race.
PEOPLE & RESOURCES MENTIONED
Heath Jeppson's books:
The Death of a BANANA Republic: https://a.co/d/06PUIKxh
The Cloud Has Hit the Ground: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1QK3QTR
Chris Crosby / Compass Datacenters:
https://www.compassdatacenters.com/author/ccrosby/
Congressional testimony: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/SM/SM21/20260121/118870/HHRG-119-SM21-Wstate-CrosbyC-20260121.pdf
Kirk Offel / OVERWATCH:
https://kirkoffel.com/media/
Congressional testimony: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/SM/SM21/20260121/118870/HHRG-119-SM21-Wstate-OffelK-20260121.pdf
Mike Sarraille:
https://weareoverwatch.com/team/mike-sarraille/
Nicole Perlroth:
Black Hat keynote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C1UL5sO_ME
To Catch a Thief: https://www.rubrik.com/lp/to-catch-a-thief-podcast
Dr. Emma M. Stewart:
Black Hat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffsrRKE5j9s
DEF CON: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=930l_omgN1w
Bryson Bort:
https://www.rsaconference.com/experts/bryson-bort
Hack the Plant: https://www.rstreet.org/issues/hack-the-plant-podcast/
Heath Jeppson:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heath-jeppson-cissp-362371163
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