Humanities Center to host San Diego State’s Dr. Dustin Edwards to speak on hyperscale AI data centers in the United States

WVU Humanities Center, in collaboration with the Department of English and the Department of Geology and Geography, are hosting Dr. Dustin Edwards for WVU Research Week on April 9, 2026, from 4-5:30 p.m. in 325 Brooks Hall.

Data centers are having a moment. From the White House to county commissioner meetings, data centers are being trumpeted for their promise to reshape economies and secure national dominance. At the same time, as tech companies race to lead the global AI market, billion-dollar data center deals have been the subject of headlines, lawsuits, and public backlash. In this presentation, Dustin Edwards tracks the policy developments, financial arrangements, and energy configurations that have paved the way for the rapid construction of hyperscale AI data centers in the United States.