The rules of data center development are evolving. Is your strategy?
Data center capacity continues to expand. This is driven largely by the rapid adoption of AI-powered technologies, such as predictive analytics and large language models like ChatGPT and Claude. Reflecting this growing demand, Goldman Sachs and BloombergNEF have revised their data center power forecasts upward in recent months, while EPRI now projects data centers could account for 9%-17% of the national electricity load by 2030, up from 4%-5% today.
Yet, there are headwinds slowing the industry down. Bloom Energy’s 2026 Data Center Power Report found that data center expansion is primarily constrained by power availability. Since that report was published in early 2026, a more nuanced picture has emerged. Bloom Energy’s Mid-Year Pulse reveals that internal and external forces are driving rapid change across the industry. Power availability is no longer just about whether power is available — it also depends on permitting, community support and emissions constraints. Evolving AI workloads and the transition from AC to DC power architectures are also adding complexity as they reshape how data centers consume and manage power.
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