Research, analysis, and perspectives on the built world.
At least 57 off-grid U.S. power plants are proposed or under construction to serve individual data centers, with combined capacity of 73,000 MW. This post explains the site criteria, regulatory risks, and underwriting considerations for developers evaluating private generation as a grid interconnection alternative.
June 17, 2026 ·7 min read
The U.S. data center market has shifted to a power-plus-permission model. This post breaks down a five-stage community engagement workflow, from pre-LOI risk screening through operations transparency, that gives developers a social license before opposition organizes.
June 17, 2026 ·6 min read
FERC will issue standardized large-load interconnection rules by June 30, 2026 under Docket RM26-4. This post covers the expected rule contents, queue strategy implications, co-location economics, and five specific actions data center developers need to take before the order drops.
June 17, 2026 ·6 min read
AI-assisted construction progress monitoring gives data center owners real-time visibility across field work, off-site fabrication, procurement, and commissioning readiness. This post breaks down the five-step workflow, explains what AI automates versus what requires human judgment, and covers where to start for maximum impact.
June 16, 2026 ·6 min read
Hyperscale and AI anchor leases in 2026 are being structured around power floors, take-or-pay commitments, and tightened ramp provisions as developers gain leverage from constrained grid access. This post covers the commercial terms that matter, with real deal examples and negotiating dynamics.
June 16, 2026 ·6 min read
AI power risk scoring decomposes grid access into five risk dimensions -- power availability, grid reliability, interconnection queue risk, price/regulatory risk, and community/policy risk -- each requiring different data and model types. This post explains how developers use these scores in site selection, IC underwriting, and lease negotiation.
June 16, 2026 ·7 min read
Oklahoma, Virginia, and North Carolina passed or advanced ratepayer protection legislation in June 2026 requiring data center developers to fund their own grid upgrades. This post explains what the laws require, the cost implications for project underwriting, which markets are most exposed, and what belongs in pre-LOI diligence now.
June 15, 2026 ·5 min read
Bloom Energy's 2026 Power Report documents a 1.5-2 year utility delivery gap that is widening in Northern Virginia, the Bay Area, and Atlanta. This post explains where the gap comes from, how AI helps development teams model and monitor it, and where human judgment still governs the critical decisions.
June 15, 2026 ·5 min read
AI factories -- exemplified by Nvidia's DSX architecture and hyperscaler GPU clusters -- operate at 50-100 kW per rack and cost up to $25M per MW to build. This post explains how the format differs from standard hyperscale development across site criteria, design, underwriting, and where AI tools apply across the development workflow.
June 15, 2026 ·5 min read