Data center news covering hyperscale buildouts, AI infrastructure demand, power and cooling, colocation providers, and data center economics.
A Business Insider investigation found 1,416 data centers built or approved across 45 states and DC in 2025. Protesters have swarmed meetings, launched petitions, and taken legal action to stop developments, prompting local restrictions and moratoriums.
Schneider Electric and Foxconn announced a partnership to develop AI data centers, focusing on closed-loop energy optimization and modular power and cooling assemblies to help customers build and operate AI infrastructure with greater speed and efficiency.
Arista Networks introduced the 7060XE7 Series, a portfolio of 1.6T networking platforms for rack-scale AI infrastructure. The company also reported Q1 2026 revenue of $2.71 billion, up 35.1% year over year, with strong cash reserves.
Google announced a $1.5 billion expansion of its Jackson County, Alabama data center, with construction planned for 2026-2027. The company will cover all energy and infrastructure costs, adhering to the US Ratepayer Protection Pledge. The facility will eventually be powered by nuclear energy via a partnership with Kairos Power and TVA.
The US government is allowing the Federal Data Center Enhancement Act (FDCEA) to expire without a replacement plan. The Office of Management and Budget is not providing guidance for agencies, and a GSA employee called the lack of a plan unprecedented.
Singapore-based Firmus Technologies plans to build three AI factories in Tasmania, making it the state's largest electricity consumer. One factory in Launceston's St Leonards suburb is expected to open early next year, with development applications submitted for sites at Wesley Vale and Bell Bay.
This commentary argues that Ireland's data centre boom, driven by AI demand, has negative local impacts including high electricity consumption, rising prices, and environmental concerns. It contends that residents are subsidizing these facilities and that the growth lacks sufficient constraints, presenting Ireland as a cautionary tale for other regions.
A petition opposing a proposed AI data center in Nashville, Tennessee, surpassed 400,000 signatures after country music star Brad Paisley voiced support. Paisley called the project an 'absolute nightmare scenario' in an Instagram Reel. The Nashville Zoo also launched its own petition against the 69,000-square-foot facility.
This commentary argues that opposition to data center construction in Kansas is uniting anti-establishment left and right activists, who normally disagree on energy projects. The author contends that concerns over water use, electricity consumption, and land use are driving bipartisan backlash, while developers promise economic benefits and reduced water use.
This commentary argues that data center construction, driven by AI demand, has become a contentious political issue in competitive US House districts. It contends that neither party has a coherent strategy to address the backlash over rising costs and environmental impacts, making it a rogue element in midterm elections.