The United States is currently experiencing a “data center gold rush,” driven by the massive computational demands of generative AI. As of early 2026, over 660 new projects are planned or under construction, representing nearly 185 GW of potential capacity.
The industry is shifting toward “Frontier Markets”—states like Texas, Ohio, and Wisconsin—where land and energy are more accessible than in traditional hubs like Northern Virginia.
Major New Data Center Projects (2024–2026+)
The following table highlights the most significant hyperscale and AI-focused data centers recently completed, under construction, or announced.
| Project / Developer | Location | Size / Capacity | Status / Timeline |
| Stargate (OpenAI/Oracle) | Abilene, TX | 5 GW+ (Planned 10 GW) | Groundbreaking 2025 |
| GW Ranch | Pecos, TX | 7,650 MW (Off-grid) | Approved Feb 2026 |
| New Era Lea | Lea, NM | 7,000 MW | Expected 2028 |
| Homer City Campus | Indiana, PA | 4,500 MW | Expected 2027 |
| Joule Capital HPC | Millard, UT | 4,000 MW | Expected 2026 |
| Frontier (Vantage) | Shackelford, TX | 1.4 GW (1,200 acres) | First bldg Q3 2026 |
| Hyperion (Meta) | Richland Parish, LA | 2 GW+ (4M sq. ft.) | Construction began 2024 |
| AWS Innovation Campus | Richmond Co, NC | $10B investment | Ground broke Oct 2025 |
| AWS New Carlisle | St. Joseph, IN | 525 MW | Operational 2025 |
| Fairwater 2 (Microsoft) | Fulton, GA | 350 MW | Operational 2025 |
| Colossus 1 (xAI) | Memphis, TN | 280 MW / 100k GPUs | Operational (Built 2024) |
| Mount Pleasant (Microsoft) | Racine Co, WI | 15 buildings ($13B+) | Approved Jan 2026 |
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Key Industry Trends
- The “Shadow Grid”: Due to strain on the public utility system, many new mega-projects (like GW Ranch and Stargate) are building their own dedicated power plants—often natural gas or modular nuclear—to remain “off-grid.”
- Texas as the New Capital: Texas is on track to surpass Virginia as the global data center leader by 2030, currently holding 6.5 GW of capacity under construction.
- AI-Specific Design: New builds are moving away from traditional air cooling toward liquid cooling systems to support high-density “AI racks” that consume up to 250 kW each.
Strategic Regional Clusters
- The Midwest Surge: Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin have become the preferred alternatives to the East Coast, with Microsoft and Amazon committing over $30 billion to these three states alone for 2025–2026 builds.
- The Nuclear Pivot: Developers are increasingly looking to restart retired nuclear plants (like Duane Arnold in Iowa) or co-locate next to active ones to secure 24/7 carbon-free power.
Would you like me to create a map or a more detailed state-by-state breakdown of these upcoming facilities?
Data Centers: The Engines of AI This video provides a visual overview of the top upcoming data center projects in the U.S. for 2025 and 2026, including their IT capacity and investment scales.
Top 10 Upcoming Data Centers in the U.S. (2025–26) | Future Cloud & AI Hubs – YouTube
Blackridge Research & Consulting · 414 views
