Held on August 6, 2025, the BisNow Data Center Investment Conference & Expo (DICE) South saw industry leaders gather in Dallas to discuss the future of data infrastructure across Texas. Among the standout voices was Erich Sanchack, CEO of Salute, who joined the expert panel, “State of the Southern Market: Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges in Dallas and Texas.”
Meeting the demands of AI through scalable infrastructure
Driven by advances in AI, new federal legislation, and higher-density compute, the data center landscape in Texas is evolving fast, with the state having emerged as a national proving ground. This growth mirrors the state’s expanding energy, digital, and transportation infrastructure, all of which have collectively placed greater pressure on development and construction delivery schedules, and operational strategies.
During the panel discussion, Erich emphasized how navigating this transformation demands a new playbook. “Given the complexity of what we’re building in Texas and the speed at which we need to build it, we cannot rely on traditional methods. Adapting to AI demand requires new thinking, namely through smarter designs, more agile teams, and operations that are ready from day one.”
Much of Erich’s leadership has focused on delivering high-performance, AI-specific operations, including Direct to Chip Liquid Cooling (DTC), that can be rapidly deployed. Supported by Chief AI Product and Learning Officer John Shultz, Salute is advising on more than 2GW of AI-capable development across Texas, including 268MW of Direct to Chip capacity that is due to come online in late 2025, with an additional 600MW expected in 2026.
The importance of workplace transformation
Workforce transformation will also prove critical to building on this progress. On that point, Erich mentioned how traditional insourcing models no longer meet the demands of AI-driven DTC deployments. In Erich’s words, “the most effective operators are blending in-house teams with scalable, specialized partners, staying agile without losing control.”
It’s for this reason that Salute is working diligently to upscale, train, and deploy DTC teams, both in Texas and beyond, that have benefited from a structured framework of e-learning, drills, and lab-based simulations. These efforts are oriented toward providing the adaptability and operational precision needed to navigate the complexities of high-density, AI-powered environments.
Embedding sustainability and social impact in infrastructure delivery
Erich also highlighted that sustainability is quickly becoming a prerequisite for success. As operators look to ensure their new facilities target high sustainability standards from inception with the use of renewables, low-carbon fuels, alternative emergency power systems, and fuel cells—all of which are gaining traction as tools for tackling Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions. As pointed out by Erich, these strategies are especially relevant to Texas, where concerns surrounding energy use—as well as water and land use—have led to demand for smarter, more accountable infrastructure solutions.
Leading on from that point, the panel turned to the importance of community engagement, with Erich restating the value of early dialogue and transparent communication in building trust. Rounding back to workforce initiatives as key to that engagement strategy, he discussed Salute’s focus on veteran training and partnerships with colleges to help close the talent gap. He paid particular attention to a client-led initiative at Texas State Technical College, which has not only given local students access to careers in digital infrastructure but has also helped build trust in such a way as to deal with key operational concerns.
Leading with purpose in the Texas data center market
Overall, Erich’s presence on the DICE South panel reinforced Salute’s position as a trusted advisor for operators navigating the next chapter of data center growth. From pioneering scalable, AI-ready infrastructure to advancing sustainability and workforce inclusion, his insights reflected a clear commitment to addressing the industry’s most urgent challenges. In Texas in particular, Salute is helping operators meet ambitious growth targets while aligning with rising expectations around performance, sustainability, and community impact, all core to its integrated, end-to-end approach to data center excellence.
Discover how Salute can support your next phase of growth
Whether you’re looking to scale in Texas or elsewhere, Salute’s global team delivers the operational expertise and integrated services needed to move your project forward. Visit our homepage to find out more about how we’re leading the AI data center revolution or, better yet, reach out to us directly via our contact form.