North American data center demand hits record 25GW in H1 2026

North American data center demand reached record levels in the first half of 2026, with 25GW of net absorption reported by JLL. This figure represents a doubling of the previous year and a fivefold increase compared to two years ago. Despite massive construction activity, vacancy rates have remained at approximately 1% for three consecutive years.

Growth is facing significant headwinds beyond capital or power availability. A major constraint is public opposition; while 79% of Americans support US leadership in AI, only 14% support data center development within their own communities. This 65-point gap is particularly relevant as 77% of the construction pipeline is shifting toward frontier markets with less experience managing the scale of hyperscale facilities.

Additionally, IT infrastructure shortages are intensifying. While thousands of new facilities are planned, many face delays due to permitting, labor, and public pushback. These delays, combined with memory shortages driven by AI deployments, are extending hardware lead times from one month to as long as 18 months. Gartner expects network equipment prices to rise by more than 20% in 2026.