Underwriting Data Centers and Other Properties with Mineral Development
Title Tenets: CRE Webinar
Underwriting Data Centers and Other Properties with Mineral Development
April 23, 2026 | 1:00 pm
Central Time (US and Canada)
Free Webinar for All CRE Professionals
As the demand for data centers explodes, developers are increasingly eyeing land with complex histories, including severed mineral interests and active resource development. This one-hour Title Tenets webinar provides a deep dive into the underwriting challenges of securing title for these high-value assets. Learn how to navigate the risks where "cloud" infrastructure meets the ground.
General Topics Covered
- Data Center Site Selection & Risks: Understanding why sites near power and fiber often coincide with mineral-rich land and the unique site selection risks involved.
- Severed Mineral Interests: Analyzing the impact of severed minerals on surface use and how to protect a data center’s physical footprint.
- Underwriting Mineral Endorsements: A review of ALTA 35 series mineral endorsements and the specific criteria for issuing coverage on commercial developments.
- Surface Waivers and Use Agreements: Strategies for obtaining surface waivers and negotiating accommodation agreements to prevent future resource extraction from interfering with operations.
- Regulatory & Statutory Frameworks: Overview of state-specific mineral notification statutes and their impact on project timelines.
- Energy & Infrastructure Synergy: How energy-first strategies are redefining land value and the necessity of comprehensive mineral reports during due diligence.
NCS Speakers
Matthew A. Madison
VP, Director of Underwriting - Stewart Title Energy and Infrastructure Group / Senior Underwriter
Matthew A. Madison is a Senior Underwiring Counsel and the Director of Underwriting for the Stewart Title Energy and Infrastructure Group. Based in Houston, Texas, Matt is the senior commercial underwriter for Stewart's Houston NCS office, and he oversees all underwriting related to title insurance for utility-scale renewable energy projects (solar/ wind/battery energy storage, green fuels, transmission) throughout the United States. Matthew has extensive experience providing guidance on endorsements, affirmative coverages, and title curative in particular, in addition to matters related to mineral coverage for renewable energy projects. Prior to joining Stewart, Matthew also worked extensively in the areas of oil and gas title examination and litigation.
Adam Stricker
Senior Underwriting Counsel, NCS
As Senior Underwriting Counsel for Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Adam possesses over 20 years of experience in the legal and real estate industries. He joined Stewart Title in 2010 as Southwestern Region Salvage Counsel. In that role he oversaw policy loss recovery efforts and litigation in 13 states and offshore territories before he was named Underwriting Counsel in 2016. Today, Adam underwrites commercial and residential transactions throughout the Western United States including in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arizona. Prior to joining Stewart, Adam was an attorney in private practice in Denver, Colorado where he represented title insurance companies and their insureds in real estate and title related litigation. He is admitted to practice in both Colorado and Nevada and holds a B.A. from the University of California – Berkeley and a J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law where he served as a General Editor on the Denver University Law Review.
