How the industry describes itself, the standards it uses, the market reports it reads, and plain-language explainers. Industry-funded material is labeled.
Data Center Coalition (Center of Your Digital World site) · undated · Web page
Defines a data center in everyday terms and explains that anything done in the cloud runs in one. A section titled Inside a data center lists the IT equipment (routers, switches, firewalls, storage systems, servers) and the supporting systems (power subsystems, uninterruptible power supplies, ventilation, cooling, fire suppression, backup generators and network connections). It also asserts community benefits. The footer states the site is powered by the Data Center Coalition, the industry's trade association.
“Data centers are buildings that house the internet.” (What is a data center?)
“uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)” (Lists and "backup generators" among supporting systems (Inside a data center)
Who should read it:
Residents and new officials who need a two-minute introduction to the physical components of a data center.
Limitations:
Written by the industry trade association as advocacy. The benefits section is promotional and gives no sourcing; it omits impacts such as noise, water use and grid costs.
Cite as:
Data Center Coalition (Center of Your Digital World site). “About Data Centers.” undated. https://www.centerofyourdigitalworld.org/about-centers
Penn State Extension (authors James R. Ladlee, Daniel Brockett, Dana Ollendyke, Thomas Beresnyak) · Updated: April 2, 2026 · Web article
Organized by topic: Power/Electricity (demand and source, infrastructure, reliability, cost and rate impacts, and projected PUE), Water (demand and sourcing, system impact, cooling design, discharge, regulation, private wells, sewer), Broadband, Land Use (site suitability, hazards, preservation), Workforce/Jobs by construction phase, Zoning and Permitting, Site Impacts (noise, lighting, viewshed), Traffic and Infrastructure, Home Values, and Policy and Taxes. It explicitly says it neither advocates for nor opposes projects. It defines PUE simply and asks whether an applicant's estimate reflects real operation or ideal design targets.
“It is not intended to advocate for or oppose any specific project.”
“PUE = total power supplied to a facility divided by the power used to run IT equipment”
“Does the estimate reflect real-world operating conditions or ideal design targets?”
Who should read it:
Every local official and planning commissioner before a first data center hearing; also residents.
Limitations:
A question guide rather than an answer source; it does not supply benchmark numbers. Written for Pennsylvania context but broadly applicable.
Cite as:
Penn State Extension (authors James R. Ladlee, Daniel Brockett, Dana Ollendyke, Thomas Beresnyak). “Data Centers: A Guide to Common Questions.” Updated: April 2, 2026. https://extension.psu.edu/data-centers-a-guide-to-common-questions
University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension (presentation by Anna Haensch, PhD, Data Science Institute) · March 26, 2026 (presented in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin) · PDF slide deck
Defines a data center and names three types: colocation facilities, hyperscale data centers and enterprise data centers. It connects AI to data center growth. A benefit and risk table covers jobs, economic activity, tax revenue and becoming a tech hub, noting for example that job creation may be mostly temporary construction work and that tax revenue can be delayed and concentrated in one payer. Later slides map transmission lines and list near-future Wisconsin projects with their megawatt ratings.
“A data center is a collection of computers in a building serving up data, computation, and other cloud resources”
“it can be 20 years before the increase is realized” (Tax Revenue risk)
“Data centers are neither all benefit, nor all risk.”
“Communities near existing high voltage transmission lines will be attractive to data center developers.”
Who should read it:
Rural and small-town officials who want a balanced, visual introduction.
Limitations:
Slide deck without narration, so some points are brief. Wisconsin-specific project data. Individual claims are not footnoted on every slide.
Cite as:
University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension (presentation by Anna Haensch, PhD, Data Science Institute). “Data Centers in 2026.” March 26, 2026 (presented in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin). https://extension.wisc.edu/files/2026/05/Data_Centers_Wisconsin-Accessible.pdf
Plain-language explainer and resource list (university extension)
Michigan State University Extension · February 12, 2026 · Web page
Explains that data centers range from hyperscale (the largest) to on-site, retail or industry-specific facilities called edge, enterprise or co-location, and that AI data centers need more electricity and cooling and so locate near large power supplies and fiber. It gives scale comparisons for power, water and building size, citing the DOE Advisory Board for campus power requests, and uses a Saline Township, Michigan proposal as a size example. A resource list links to the NLC primer, the CRS FAQ, ULI guidance, Georgetown Climate Center ordinances, the Joyce Foundation, Washtenaw County, University of Michigan Ford School, NRDC and others.
“between 300-1000MW (2024)” (hyperscale campus requests of (citing DOE Advisory Board)
“300 MW is enough energy to power about 250,000 homes for a year.”
“A 100 MW facility may consume the same amount of water as 2,600 households.”
Who should read it:
Local officials who want definitions of data center types plus a vetted starting reading list.
Limitations:
The scale comparisons are secondary citations; the water comparison's underlying source was not traced in this review. Michigan focus.
Cite as:
Michigan State University Extension. “Data Center Resources.” February 12, 2026. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/data-center-resources
ASHRAE with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and NEMA · undated · Web framework
Created by PNNL, ASHRAE and NEMA after an industry survey, the framework covers planning and siting, integrated design, energy and thermal efficiency, grid-interactive design (demand flexibility), resilient design, commissioning, operations and maintenance, and retrofit. It states it covers energy sourcing, energy use and water use. The Site Planning page lists impacts and recommended practices, including early engagement with utilities, regulators and local stakeholders, and notes environmental factors such as water availability, noise and visual impacts. The framework states it does not set mandatory requirements or supersede codes.
“provides opportunities to lessen impacts on communities surrounding data center developments” (overview)
“What this framework does not do is establish mandatory requirements” (overview)
Who should read it:
Planners and economic development staff preparing siting criteria or pre-application questions for large AI data centers.
Limitations:
Voluntary guidance written with industry partners; ASHRAE and NEMA represent engineering and manufacturing interests. The Tools page notes many industry tools are proprietary. No publication date shown.
Cite as:
ASHRAE with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and NEMA. “PNNL/ASHRAE/NEMA AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework.” undated. https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/ai-data-center-framework
Describes Uptime's four progressive Tiers, which define criteria for maintenance, power, cooling and fault capabilities, plus a second component called operational sustainability. Tier I is the basic level with a UPS, dedicated cooling and an engine generator. Tier III is concurrently maintainable, with redundant components and distribution paths so equipment can be maintained without shutdown. Tier IV has several independent and physically isolated systems. The page states that a higher Tier is not simply better; the Tier should fit the business need, and building codes, weather, security and property use are outside the standard.
“This progression does not mean that a Tier IV data center is better than a Tier II”
“A Tier III data center is concurrently maintainable”
“An engine generator for power outages.” (Tier I requirements)
Who should read it:
Planning staff decoding an applicant's claim of a Tier III or Tier IV design and what that implies for generators, fuel storage and redundant equipment yards.
Limitations:
Uptime is the only licensed certifier of its own Tier system and the page is partly marketing for certification services. It does not address local land use impacts.
Cite as:
Uptime Institute. “Uptime Institute Tier Classification System.” undated. https://uptimeinstitute.com/tiers
The Green Grid (copy hosted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Center of Expertise) · 2012 · PDF white paper
Consolidates The Green Grid's earlier PUE publications into a single reference. The Executive Summary states PUE is the industry-preferred metric for infrastructure energy efficiency and was developed by The Green Grid, a non-profit open industry consortium, with original publication in 2007. The paper explains that PUE compares total facility energy with IT equipment energy and cautions that it is not a productivity metric or a standalone comprehensive efficiency metric. Later sections cover measurement methodology and reporting.
“PUE measures the relationship between the total facility energy consumed and the IT equipment energy consumed.”
“PUE is not a data center productivity metric”
“Since its original publication in 2007, PUE has been globally adopted by the industry.”
Who should read it:
Staff who need the authoritative definition when an applicant quotes a design PUE, and who want to know its limits.
Limitations:
Produced by an industry consortium whose members include equipment makers and operators. Dated 2012; methodology is stable but market context is old. PUE says nothing about water use or total size of load.
Cite as:
The Green Grid (copy hosted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Center of Expertise). “PUE: A Comprehensive Examination of the Metric (White Paper #49).” 2012. https://datacenters.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/WP49-PUE%20A%20Comprehensive%20Examination%20of%20the%20Metric_v6.pdf
The Green Grid · 01 March, 2011 · Web abstract page
The public abstract explains that The Green Grid created WUE to address water use, which it describes as emerging as extremely important to data center design, location and operation. WUE is presented as a companion to PUE and Carbon Usage Effectiveness (CUE), so operators can assess water, energy and carbon aspects together. The editor and contributors are listed from Intel, Symantec, Microsoft and Emerson.
“the WUE metric is a natural extension of PUE”
“emerging as extremely important in the design, location, and operation of data centers” (water usage is)
Who should read it:
Water utility and planning staff who want the origin of the WUE metric an applicant may cite.
Limitations:
Only the abstract is public; the full paper requires sign-in on The Green Grid site and was not read. Industry consortium authorship; dated 2011.
Cite as:
The Green Grid. “WP#35 - Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE): A Green Grid Data Center Sustainability Metric.” 01 March, 2011. https://archive.thegreengrid.org/en/resources/library-and-tools/238-WP
Lists ASHRAE's Datacom book series and research, plus a section titled Free Resources: White Papers and Technical Bulletins. Free titles listed include Emergence and Expansion of Liquid Cooling in Mainstream Data Centers, Edge Computing: Considerations for Reliable Operation, Data Center Power Equipment Thermal Guidelines and Best Practices, and Water-Cooled Servers Common Designs, Components, and Processes. It also lists ASHRAE government engagement items, such as a letter to GSA on federal data centers.
“Free Resources: White Papers and Technical Bulletins” (Section heading)
“Emergence and Expansion of Liquid Cooling in Mainstream Data Centers” (Free title listed)
Who should read it:
Technical staff looking for free, standards-body explanations of liquid cooling and edge data centers.
Limitations:
ASHRAE is a professional society that sells most of its publications; only the free items are openly available. Index page, not analysis.
Cite as:
ASHRAE. “ASHRAE Data Center Resources.” undated. https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/bookstore/datacom-series
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) · undated (describes revision TIA-942-C) · Web page
Describes ANSI/TIA-942, the Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers, now in revision C, which TIA says was updated for data growth, AI and sustainability. It specifies minimum requirements across physical infrastructure including site location, architectural, electrical, mechanical, fire safety, telecommunications and security. TIA lists the standard's claimed advantages, including coverage of topologies, redundancy, fire protection and physical security, and promotes its TIA-942 audit and certification services. The standard itself must be purchased.
“specifies the minimum requirements for data centers and covers all physical infrastructure”
“Covers architecture and topologies, as well as electrical design, mechanical design, fire protection”
Who should read it:
Building officials and fire marshals who want to know which private design standard an applicant may reference.
Limitations:
Industry association page that promotes paid certification and sale of the standard; full standard not read. Not a substitute for local building and fire codes.
Cite as:
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). “ANSI/TIA-942 Standard.” undated (describes revision TIA-942-C). https://tiaonline.org/products-and-services/tia942certification/ansi-tia-942-standard/
TeleGeography (Jon Hjembo) · Mar 12, 2025 · Web article
Defines 13 terms: available capacity, cloud on-ramps, colocation capacity, cross connect, gross capacity, high density, internet exchange, peering, power capacity, PUE, rack density, site density and transit. It explains that power capacity is the total utility power allocated to a site rather than the smaller IT power, that rack density is measured in kilowatts per rack, and that site density is watts per square foot.
“The full amount of utility power allocated to the data center.” (Power Capacity)
“We categorize cabinets with 10 kW density or higher as high-density.”
“The ratio of facility power to data center floor space” (Site Density)
Who should read it:
New officials and staff who need quick definitions of the jargon in applications and news coverage.
Limitations:
Written by a commercial telecom research firm for its market; colocation-focused and does not define hyperscale or edge.
Cite as:
TeleGeography (Jon Hjembo). “Data Centers 101: Technical Terms You Should Know.” Mar 12, 2025. https://resources.telegeography.com/data-centers-101-technical-terms-you-should-know
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory News Center · date not printed on the page · News article
Summarizes the 2024 Report on U.S. Data Center Energy Use, which covers 2014 to 2028. It reports that data center load growth tripled over the past decade and is projected to double or triple by 2028, gives the share of total U.S. electricity used by data centers in 2023 and the projected range for 2028, and notes that power demand more than doubled from 2017 to 2023, largely due to AI servers. It quotes lead researcher Arman Shehabi on how much the industry has changed since 2016.
“consumed about 4.4% of total U.S. electricity in 2023” (Data centers)
“expected to consume between 6.7 and 12% of total U.S. electricity by 2028”
“climbed from 58 TWh in 2014 to 176 TWh in 2023”
Who should read it:
Elected officials and communications staff who need the headline national numbers in plain language.
Limitations:
Summary of a larger report; national figures only.
Cite as:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory News Center. “Berkeley Lab Report Evaluates Increase in Electricity Demand from Data Centers.” date not printed on the page. https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2025/01/15/berkeley-lab-report-evaluates-increase-in-electricity-demand-from-data-centers/
U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) · Revised July 2024 (web page dated July 26, 2024) · PDF guide
Organized into chapters on IT systems (including a section on cloud and colocation computing), environmental conditions based on the 2021 ASHRAE thermal guidelines, air management (aisle separation and containment), cooling systems (direct expansion, air handlers, chilled water, free cooling, thermal storage, direct liquid cooling, humidification and controls), electrical systems (power distribution, demand response, DC power, lighting), use of waste heat, and benchmarking with PUE and Energy Reuse Effectiveness. It also references WUE and CUE as tracking metrics. It is the most complete free, government-authored primer on cooling types found.
“PUE is defined as the ratio of the total annual energy to run the data center facility to the total annual energy drawn by all IT equipment” (Benchmarking)
“5.4 Free Cooling”
“7.1 Use of Waste Heat” (Table of contents includes)
Who should read it:
Staff who need to understand cooling system types (and therefore water and noise implications) and efficiency metrics in an application.
Limitations:
Written for federal facility designers; technical in places. Focuses on efficiency, not local land use, tax or community impacts.
Cite as:
U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). “Best Practices Guide for Energy-Efficient Data Center Design.” Revised July 2024 (web page dated July 26, 2024). https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/best-practice-guide-data-center-design_0.pdf
ENERGY STAR (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) · undated · Web page
Explains that data centers are not only large standalone tech campuses but can exist in commercial buildings and industrial facilities. Lists benefits of efficiency (financial savings, energy savings, security, system performance) and links to resources on data center equipment, HVAC and air flow, IT solutions, the data center building, and renewable energy procurement. Additional resources include the energy cost of cryptocurrency, embedded data centers, data center efficiency for utilities, and case studies.
“data centers can exist anywhere, including in commercial buildings and industrial facilities”
“Data Center Efficiency for Utilities” (Resource listed)
Who should read it:
Sustainability staff and municipal facility managers, including those running their own server rooms.
Limitations:
Focused on efficiency of existing facilities, not siting or community impacts. Undated.
Cite as:
ENERGY STAR (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). “Data Centers.” undated. https://www.energystar.gov/products/data_centers
ENERGY STAR (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) · undated (list includes certifications through 2024) · Web table
Lists ENERGY STAR certified data centers with facility name, state, owner, property manager, label years, total floor space, year constructed and number of certifications. To respect security concerns, only the state is shown, not the address. Officials can use it to check whether a named operator has certified any existing facilities.
“ENERGY STAR Certified Data Centers (336)” (Page heading)
“only the state in which the data center is located is displayed”
Who should read it:
Staff checking an applicant's efficiency track record at existing facilities.
Limitations:
Voluntary program; absence from the list does not mean a facility is inefficient. Shows state only. Certification reflects information submitted at application time.
Cite as:
ENERGY STAR (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). “ENERGY STAR Certified Data Centers.” undated (list includes certifications through 2024). https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/certified-data-centers
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) · undated · Initiative website
DCFlex is organized into workstreams on data center design, programs, interconnection, planning readiness and thought leadership. The site announces a Headroom Framework, described as a playbook for assessing how much data center load today's grid can integrate, and reports on active demonstration sites testing real-time flexibility. The About page says the initiative explores the technical, economic and regulatory dimensions of flexibility for utilities, market operators, technology firms and policymakers.
“playbook for assessing how much data center load today's grid can integrate” (Headroom Framework)
Who should read it:
Officials hearing claims that a proposed facility will be "flexible" or "grid-friendly" and wanting to know where that concept comes from.
Limitations:
Member-based collaborative with industry and utility participants; some workshops are limited to members and signatories. Advocacy for flexibility as a solution; demonstration results not reviewed here.
Cite as:
Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). “DCFlex (Data Center Flexible Load Initiative).” undated. https://dcflex.epri.com/
Data Center Coalition (DCC) · undated (index page; newest items listed May 2026) · Web page
Lists the reports the Data Center Coalition has released, newest first. The May 2026 entries are an Energy + Environmental Economics (E3) report on data centers and electricity rates and a PwC report, commissioned by DCC, on the economic contributions of the U.S. data center industry for 2023 to 2024 at national and state level. Earlier entries include a February 2025 PwC national and state study and a February 2025 report on Texas state and local tax revenues from data centers. Each entry links to a downloadable report or research note.
“Economic Contributions of Data Centers in the United States, 2023-2024”
“A new report from PwC, commissioned by DCC”
“Report: Texas State and Local Tax Revenues from Data Centers”
Who should read it:
Staff who want to see the full set of industry-sponsored economic and rate studies that developers are likely to cite in a local hearing.
Limitations:
Every study on this page was commissioned or funded by the industry's trade association. Treat findings as the industry's case and compare them with independent sources.
Cite as:
Data Center Coalition (DCC). “Reports & Publications.” undated (index page; newest items listed May 2026). https://www.datacentercoalition.org/reports-and-publications
Data Center Coalition (report prepared by PwC); hosted on DCC's Center of Your Digital World site · May 2026 (per DCC reports page) · Web summary page with link to full PDF report
Summarizes a PwC study, commissioned by the Data Center Coalition, of the data center industry's economic contributions in 2023 and 2024 for the nation, all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Highlights are grouped into Employment, Value Added (GDP) and Taxes. The totals include direct, indirect and induced effects, meaning they count supplier and household spending ripple effects, not only people working inside data centers. The page links to the full report for state-level tables.
“In 2024, the U.S. data center industry directly employed 1,005,080 people.” (Employment)
“each direct job in the data center industry supports more than 4.5 jobs elsewhere” (Employment)
“grew from $768 billion in 2023 to $927 billion in 2024” (Value Added, GDP)
“increased from $165 billion in 2023 to $204 billion in 2024” (Taxes, total fiscal support)
Who should read it:
Economic development staff and elected officials weighing claims about jobs and tax base; useful for knowing what numbers an applicant may present.
Limitations:
Commissioned and published by the industry trade association. National and state totals include indirect and induced effects and are not a measure of permanent on-site jobs at any single facility. The page does not describe local, facility-level results.
Cite as:
Data Center Coalition (report prepared by PwC); hosted on DCC's Center of Your Digital World site. “2026 Impact Study (page heading: 2026 PwC Report, Economic contributions of U.S. data centers, 2023-2024).” May 2026 (per DCC reports page). https://www.centerofyourdigitalworld.org/2026-impact-study
Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc. (E3); funded by the Data Center Coalition · May 2026 · PDF white paper
Includes a Report in Brief, an Executive Summary, two primers (how power markets work, and retail rate design and cost allocation), a section on how the regulatory system protects customers, a review of data center rate impacts to date, drivers of rising electricity rates, and select market overviews. It argues rate increases stem from many factors such as market design, fuel cost volatility, generation retirements, inflation and other utility investments, not load growth alone. It calls for regular updates to utility cost allocation across customer classes. The acknowledgments state the report was funded by the Data Center Coalition, which reviewed it before publication, while E3 says the conclusions are its own.
“there is no evidence that data centers have been historically subsidized by other customers” (Report in Brief, referring to quantitative analyses to date)
“Regular updates to utility cost allocation across customer classes will be critical” (Report in Brief)
“This report was funded by the Data Center Co[alition]”
Who should read it:
Officials and utility commission watchers who want the industry-sponsored view on rate impacts, to read alongside independent or regulator analyses.
Limitations:
Funded by the Data Center Coalition and reviewed by it before publication. It is a review of prior studies, not new ratepayer data for any specific utility, and its conclusions concern historical impacts under existing rate structures.
Cite as:
Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc. (E3); funded by the Data Center Coalition. “Understanding the Drivers of Rising Electricity Rates and the Role of Data Centers.” May 2026. https://www.ethree.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Understanding-the-Drivers-of-Rising-Electricity-Rates-and-the-Role-of-Data-Centers_E3-2026.pdf
Summarizes Uptime Institute's 16th annual survey of more than 800 data center owners and operators, about one in four of whom work for third-party providers such as colocation and cloud firms. Findings cover rising costs and concerns about capacity forecasting, power availability and supply chains; only minor improvement in average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) because of legacy facilities; rising rack power densities with more operators reporting peaks of 30 kW or higher; fewer but costlier outages; worsening staffing shortages; and more operators tracking water use while carbon tracking remains a minority activity.
“The industry saw minor improvements in average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) levels this year.”
“One in ten outages is still classified as serious or severe”
“more than half of all operators now recording their water consumption”
“collected responses from more than 800 data center owners and operators” (About the Survey)
Who should read it:
Officials who want to understand operator-side trends (density, water tracking, reliability) behind the requests they receive.
Limitations:
Uptime Institute is a commercial firm that sells research subscriptions and certifications. Only this press summary was read; the full report is published through Uptime Intelligence and its access terms were not verified. Survey results are self-reported and global, not U.S.-local.
Cite as:
Uptime Institute. “Uptime Institute 16th Annual 2026 Global Data Center Survey: Deployment of High Density Racks Rising Fast, Operators Face Continued Recruiting and Retention Pressures.” July 28, 2026. https://uptimeinstitute.com/about-ui/press-releases/16th-annual-2026-global-data-center-survey-deployment-of-high-density-racks-rising-fast-operators-face-continued-recruiting-and-retention-pressures
Summarizes the 2025 edition of Uptime's global operator survey. It reports that cost remains the top management concern while worries about forecasting future capacity grew, that average PUE showed little change for a sixth consecutive year, that racks in the 10 to 30 kW range are becoming more common while few facilities exceed 30 kW, and that collection of sustainability metrics did not improve in 2025. It also notes roughly one-third of owners and operators perform some AI training or inference.
“Average PUE levels show little change for the sixth consecutive year”
“greater adoption of racks in the 10–30 kW range”
“The collection and reporting of key sustainability metrics have not improved in 2025”
Who should read it:
Readers comparing year-over-year operator trends; pairs with the 2026 release.
Limitations:
Commercial research firm; press summary only; survey is global and self-reported. Superseded in part by the 2026 survey.
Cite as:
Uptime Institute. “Uptime's 15th Annual Global Data Center Survey Results Shows Both Commitment and Hesitancy as Industry Plans for Wider AI Usage, Climate Change Reporting, and the NVIDIA Revolution to Come.” July 30, 2025. https://uptimeinstitute.com/about-ui/press-releases/uptimes-15th-annual-global-data-center-survey-results-shows-both-commitment-and-hesitancy
Uptime Institute (Uptime Intelligence) · May 13, 2026 · Press release
Reports that per-site outage frequency has declined for the fifth consecutive year, though the pace of improvement has slowed. It notes that in publicly reported outages, failures of external infrastructure are becoming more prominent and fiber and connectivity outages are rising. Uptime's research director argues failures will increasingly come from complex interactions among software, networks and external dependencies, including power availability, rather than single points of failure inside the building.
“outage frequency on a per-site basis is declining” (for the fifth consecutive year)
“approximately 1 in 10 note their last outage had serious or severe impacts”
“digital infrastructure is remarkably resilient” (Andy Lawrence, Uptime Intelligence)
Who should read it:
Emergency management and utility staff interested in why operators want redundant power, backup generators and multiple fiber routes.
Limitations:
Commercial research firm; press summary only; full report access not verified.
Cite as:
Uptime Institute (Uptime Intelligence). “Uptime Announces Annual Outage Analysis Report 2026.” May 13, 2026. https://uptimeinstitute.com/about-ui/press-releases/uptime-announces-annual-outage-analysis-report-2026
CBRE · August 27, 2026 · Web report with market chapters
Subtitled Construction Increases While Vacancy Falls to New Low. It reports record primary market supply, record low vacancy, rising net absorption driven by hyperscale and AI tenants, rent increases across deployment sizes, and record capacity under construction. It highlights that Atlanta overtook Northern Virginia in total construction, that Northern Virginia construction slowed due to land and permitting constraints, and that little future capacity remains available. Chapters cover Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Hillsboro OR, New York Tri-State, Northern Virginia, Phoenix and Silicon Valley.
“primary market vacancy fell to a record low of 1.4% in H1”
“For the first time, Atlanta overtook Northern Virginia as the top market for total construction”
“a slower pace than last year due to land and permitting constraints” (Northern Virginia)
“Power availability and infrastructure delivery timelines remain the most decisive factors”
Who should read it:
Economic development staff trying to understand why developers are searching for new markets and how quickly capacity is being absorbed.
Limitations:
Commercial brokerage with a business interest in data center transactions. Covers primary markets only; Kansas City is not one of the chapters.
Cite as:
CBRE. “North America Data Center Trends H1 2026.” August 27, 2026. https://www.cbre.com/insights/books/north-america-data-center-trends-h1-2026
JLL (authors Andrew Batson, Ben Davalos) · 11 August 2026 · Web article
Subtitled Navigating historic growth and community acceptance. JLL reports vacancy near 1% for a third year, most tenants contracting for 2028 deliveries, and more than 66 GW under construction in North America, most of it in frontier markets such as West Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana and the Carolinas that had almost no capacity ten years ago. It states the next phase of growth depends on building trust and addressing local concerns, and discusses construction lending terms.
“More than 66 GW of data center capacity is under construction in North America”
“Today, 77% of this capacity is being built in frontier markets.”
“depend on building trust, addressing local concerns and delivering lasting benefits to host communities”
Who should read it:
Officials in markets that are new to data centers, since this report explains why developers are arriving there.
Limitations:
Commercial brokerage with a business interest in the sector; the tone is favorable to development. Market figures are JLL's own tracking.
Cite as:
JLL (authors Andrew Batson, Ben Davalos). “North America Data Center Report Midyear 2026.” 11 August 2026. https://www.jll.com/en-us/insights/market-dynamics/north-america-data-centers
Cushman & Wakefield · 9/14/2026 · Web summary with downloadable report
States that growth is increasingly shaped by local market conditions, including power allocation frameworks, transmission constraints, infrastructure funding obligations and regulatory requirements. Gives regional totals for operational capacity, capacity under construction, precommitment, vacancy and planned pipeline, and names emerging markets such as West Texas, Pennsylvania, Alberta and Cheyenne.
“The Americas now account for 50.3GW of operational capacity”
“a record 37.7GW under construction with a 91.7% precommitment rate”
“The planned development pipeline expanded to 285GW”
“Region-wide vacancy declined to 3.8%”
Who should read it:
Kansas City area officials in particular, because Kansas City is one of the tracked markets.
Limitations:
Commercial brokerage. Only the public summary page was read; the downloadable report's Kansas City figures were not verified. Planned pipeline figures include projects that may never be built.
Cite as:
Cushman & Wakefield. “Americas Data Center Update | H1 2026.” 9/14/2026. https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/insights/americas-data-center-update
Synergy Research Group · December 19, 2025 · Press article
Based on Q3 2025 data covering 21 major cloud and internet firms, it reports the number of large hyperscale data centers worldwide, the growth in operational capacity since 2018, the sharp rise in quarterly hyperscale capital spending since late 2022, and the U.S. share of global hyperscale capacity. It names Amazon, Microsoft and Google as holding the majority of hyperscale capacity, followed by Meta, Alibaba, Tencent, Oracle, Apple and ByteDance. Useful for understanding what hyperscale means and who the hyperscalers are.
“the number of large data centers operated by hyperscale providers has climbed to 1,297 worldwide”
“The US now accounts for 55% of worldwide hyperscale operational capacity”
“In aggregate, the three now account for 58% of all hyperscale data center capacity.”
Who should read it:
Officials who want to know who the hyperscale companies are and how concentrated the market is.
Limitations:
Commercial research firm selling subscriptions; methodology behind counts is proprietary. Global figures, not local.
Cite as:
Synergy Research Group. “Hyperscale Spending Spree is Driving Dramatic Growth in Data Center Capacity.” December 19, 2025. https://www.srgresearch.com/articles/hyperscale-spending-spree-is-driving-dramatic-growth-in-data-center-capacity
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Why we put this together.
When a data center shows up on an agenda, the questions come fast, and the answers are scattered across federal reports, utility filings, state bills and local ordinances. We wanted one place a council member, a planner or a neighbor could start. We read what we list, and if we only got through part of a long report, we tell you which part. If something sat behind a paywall or the link was dead, we left it out.
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