In the first quarter of 2026, organized opposition delayed or blocked approximately $130 billion worth of data-center projects in the U.S., as communities expressed concerns over electricity prices, water use, and project secrecy. New York state enacted the nation’s first statewide moratorium on new hyperscale facilities, while AWS reports that over 100 local moratoriums are under consideration nationwide.
Despite these setbacks, investment in AI infrastructure remains robust. Anthropic’s leaked IPO prospectus indicates nearly $518 billion in compute and infrastructure commitments, with 80% being noncancelable. OpenAI’s revenue run rate is nearing $70 billion, reflecting a 70% growth since the third quarter of 2026. Additionally, investment packages worth over $50 billion are being arranged by major lenders to finance custom silicon for OpenAI.
Data center operators are pivoting towards on-site infrastructure solutions, leading to significant increases in workforce demand. Companies like EMCOR Group and Comfort Systems USA report record backlogs, while electricians now earn upwards of $100,000 annually. Major players in AI and related fields, including SpaceX and Google, are also exploring orbital data centers, although this approach currently incurs higher costs.
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