Insights

Research, analysis, and perspectives on the built world.

Industry

Data Center Demand Response in 2026: Why Flexibility Is Becoming a Development Requirement

This post explains why demand response is becoming more relevant to data center development in 2026. It connects AI-driven load growth, utility constraints, tenant reliability requirements and the practical limits of flexible operations.

May 28, 2026 ·5 min read

Industry

Data Center Transformer Procurement in 2026: Why Electrical Equipment Is Now a Development Constraint

This post explains why transformer and switchgear procurement has become a major constraint for data center development in 2026. It covers lead times, utility coordination, capital planning and how AI helps teams track equipment risk across site selection, procurement and delivery.

May 26, 2026 ·5 min read

Industry

Data Center Transmission Planning in 2026: The Constraint Behind the Constraint

This post explains why transmission planning has become the upstream constraint in data center development. It covers FERC Order No. 1920, load growth, interconnection congestion and what developers need to diligence before treating a power-rich site as viable.

May 25, 2026 ·5 min read

Industry

AI Infrastructure Capex Is Rewriting Data Center Development in 2026

Hyperscale AI capex is reshaping the data center development pipeline. This piece explains why capital is moving faster than power, equipment and entitlement capacity, and what developers need to model before chasing AI infrastructure demand.

May 22, 2026 ·5 min read

Industry

Data Center Land Banking in 2026: Why Power-Ready Sites Are Becoming Strategic Inventory

Data center land banking is changing as power-ready land becomes strategic inventory for hyperscalers, operators and infrastructure investors. This post explains why the strategy is accelerating, what separates valuable land from speculative land and how AI helps screen sites at market speed.

May 21, 2026 ·4 min read

Industry

Data Center Power Demand 2026: What Developers Need to Underwrite Now

Data center power demand in 2026 is forcing developers to underwrite grid access before land, incentives or tenant interest. This post explains the demand signals, power constraints and diligence questions that now matter most.

May 18, 2026 ·5 min read

Industry

Data Center Construction Costs 2026: The New Underwriting Constraint

Data center construction costs in 2026 are being driven by power scarcity, long-lead electrical equipment, skilled labor shortages and cooling complexity. This post explains where budgets are moving, what developers need to underwrite earlier and where AI can improve cost visibility before a site is committed.

May 15, 2026 ·5 min read

Industry

Data Center Tax Incentives 2026: How States Compete for AI Infrastructure

Data center tax incentives in 2026 are becoming more strategic as states compete for AI infrastructure, jobs and grid investment. The article explains how incentives affect site selection, why power and permitting still dominate and how development teams should underwrite incentive risk.

May 14, 2026 ·5 min read

Industry

Data Center Construction Labor Shortage 2026: Why Skilled Trades Are Now a Site Selection Constraint

The data center construction labor shortage is becoming a development constraint as AI campuses scale from tens of megawatts to hundreds. This post explains why electricians, mechanical contractors and commissioning specialists now affect market selection, schedule risk and underwriting.

May 12, 2026 ·5 min read