See how data centers are changing the American landscape

Key Points:

• The U.S. is experiencing a major transformation with the construction of large hyperscale data centers to meet growing AI computing demands, with nearly 100 operational, 120 under construction, and 460 planned nationwide.
• These data centers consume immense amounts of electricity, often equivalent to powering tens of thousands of homes, and are increasingly being built in rural areas to reduce costs while maintaining access to reliable power and fiber internet.
• To address strain on local electric grids and community concerns about rising energy costs, some data centers are incorporating on-site power generation, including gas power plants and battery storage, though this has raised pollution and emission complaints.
• Data centers have expanded from single urban buildings to sprawling multi-building campuses, exemplified by Meta's Hyperion project in rural Louisiana, which will be among the largest data center campuses in the U.S. by 2030.
• Despite their growth, these massive data center projects face scrutiny over environmental impacts and community opposition, especially regarding air pollution from temporary gas turbines used during construction phases.