There is a significant transformation occurring across the United States to meet the growing demand for computer processing needed to power artificial intelligence. Technology companies are building larger data centers equipped with power-intensive equipment in various locations around the country.
According to satellite imagery sourced from Google Earth, counties like Racine, Wisconsin, and Maricopa, Arizona, along with several others, host many of these data centers. These centers are essential, consuming at least 100 megawatts of power during peak operation, enough to supply electricity to about 80,000 homes. Data from Cleanview, a market intelligence firm, reveals the existence of nearly 100 hyperscale data centers operating currently, with another 120 under construction and 460 planned.
About 40% of these data centers are built on previously developed land, whereas the remainder have replaced farmland, shrubs, and forests.
David Adams, an associate professor at California State University at Fullerton specializing in public infrastructure, notes that existing centers are often located in affluent metropolitan and urban areas. These locations provide consistent power supply and fast internet, making them attractive for facility development. However, the newer facilities required for AI operations demand more electricity, partially due to advanced chips housed within. This has prompted a shift toward rural areas where construction is cost-effective yet still close to fiber internet lines.
The electricity needs of these centers can strain the local power grid, leading some to incorporate their own power generation. This approach helps reduce local concerns regarding potential increases in electricity costs for consumers and often necessitates more expansive site areas. An example is Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which merged with xAI, establishing its Colossus 2 data center in the Memphis area adjacent to an existing gas power plant. Giant battery installations aid in stabilizing power during high demand periods. However, while construction advances, this center temporarily operates on gas turbines, which may emit more pollutants than grid power. Residents near SpaceX’s older Colossus data center have expressed concerns over emissions from its on-site generators. SpaceX did not provide a statement on these issues.
While data centers are not new, their scale is growing considerably. Typically, these centers comprised a single building in urban settings. Now, they often start with one building but rapidly expand. An instance of such expansion is Meta’s data center campus, Hyperion, in rural Louisiana. It occupies land more extensive than New York’s Central Park and will surpass Memphis’s Colossus 2 in size. Meta also did not respond to requests for comments.
If current construction plans proceed as scheduled, Cleanview projects Hyperion to rank fifth in the U.S. by square footage by 2030, demonstrating the massive growth expected in data center development.