AI is driving a data-center power boom. Here are some of the biggest US projects being built.
The rapid expansion of AI technology is driving a massive surge in demand for data center capacity, with several US projects now targeting gigawatt-scale power consumption. These facilities are raising concerns regarding local grid stability, water usage, and environmental impact.
Why it matters
The massive energy requirements of AI infrastructure are forcing a re-evaluation of national energy policy and local utility capacity.
The Meta El Paso Data Center on Aug. 13, 2026, in El Paso, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Data centers and artificial intelligence have become a part of everyday conversation for Americans. Data center energy consumption has entered those conversations, too. The largest planned AI campuses could require more than 10 gigawatts of electricity. Some Americans have new next-door neighbors: data centers . The US has been building these computing facilities for decades, but development has ramped up dramatically in recent years as AI increasingly drives demand for computing power. Business Insider compiled a list of some of these enormous US data-center projects to illustrate the scale of what's being built. Those on the list have at least 1 gigawatt of capacity and have broken ground. Among the largest is a city-sized campus in Texas pursuing up to 17 gigawatts of power capacity.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in