Story perspectives

Data Center Developers Spend $6 Billion on Land in 2026

9/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

Data center developers spent about $6 billion on land purchases in the first half of 2026.
Land purchases rose 79% from the prior year, Avison Young reported.
Data centers comprised 27% of U.S. development sites in 2026, second only to apartments.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale facilities in July.

History

Historical Context

Google’s 2010 $1.5 billion data-center launch in Oregon ignited the United States’ hyperscale cloud expansion, prompting rival firms to follow nationwide. Backed by Google, financed by the U.S. Department of Energy, the facility generated 2,000 jobs and lifted regional power use by 15 %. In 2026 Avison Young reported developers spending $6 billion on land, while Governor Kathy Hochul announced a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale sites. The cycle demonstrates that early massive investments provoke municipal regulation, urging cities such as New York to weigh economic benefits against infrastructure capacity.

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Story summary

Data center developers spent about $6 billion on land purchases in the first half of 2026.
Land purchases rose 79% from the prior year, Avison Young reported.
Data centers comprised 27% of U.S. development sites in 2026, second only to apartments.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale facilities in July.

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