Data Centers Transforming U.S. Landscape
America is witnessing a significant transformation driven by the demand for AI processing. Tech companies are constructing large data centers nationwide, filled with equipment that consumes substantial power.
Locations include Racine County, Wis., Maricopa County, Ariz., and Loudoun County, Va., among others. Between 2015 and 2026, these areas have seen new data center developments.
Source: Satellite imagery via Google Earth
The country hosts nearly 100 hyperscale data centers, consuming 100 megawatts or more, equivalent to powering about 80,000 homes. Another 120 centers are in progress, and 460 more are planned, according to Cleanview.
About 40% of existing centers were built on developed land; the remaining occupied farmlands and forests. Urban sites are favored for their power reliability and internet access, explained David Adams, professor at California State University, Fullerton. However, new centers require more electricity and are expanding into rural areas for cost efficiency near internet lines.
Data centers strain electric grids and are sometimes built with power generation capabilities to mitigate local criticism about potential increased electricity costs. SpaceX’s Colossus 2 example shows the use of adjacent power plants and large batteries to stabilize demand peaks. Temporary gas turbines currently power Colossus 2, raising environmental concerns despite SpaceX’s silence on protests.
Historically, data centers were smaller urban structures, noted Adams. Now they expand to multi-building complexes. Meta’s Hyperion campus in rural Louisiana exemplifies this trend, potentially surpassing other large centers in size soon.
Despite its scale, Hyperion may rank only fifth by square footage by 2030, if projected plans proceed, per Cleanview’s data.