Today's data centers can consume double the power of their predecessors, and more powerful ones are in the works.
Why it matters: Data centers have emerged as a key issue as midterm elections draw near.
By the numbers: Running at two-thirds capacity — typical for a data center — the average new data center uses enough energy to power 54,000 homes, according to records analyzed by market intelligence company Cleanview.
The 250 planned in future years would increase today's 13,200 MW capacity by more than seven times.
That's enough to power at least two of every five U.S. homes.
The fine print: Cleanview only counts individual buildings as data centers.
Reality check: It's unlikely the more than 3,000 data centers on Cleanview's list will come to fruition.
Forty-five projects on Cleanview's complete list have been canceled.
About 450 don't have a completion date.
What's next: On average, the next generation of data centers is on track to consume 2.5 times more power than those opening in 2026.
