Study Finds U.S. Data Centers Near Urban Power Infrastructure

A Nature Cities study led by New York University finds that 97.5% of 4,283 U.S. data centers are located in metropolitan or micropolitan areas rather than remote rural locations. Local power-generation capacity is the strongest predictor of siting, with broadband, IT employment, and retired coal-plant infrastructure also associated with development. The findings indicate that continued expansion may concentrate demand and related planning pressures in established urban infrastructure hubs, while emissions outcomes depend heavily on local electricity supplies.