Massive data center projects exceeding 3 gigawatts are currently under construction across several US states, including Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, and Utah. These enormous campuses, driven by the demand for artificial intelligence, represent a significant leap in scale compared to traditional internet infrastructure.
The 8-gigawatt behemoth in Pike County and beyond
The Data Center Index has identified several massive developments that dwarf previous industry standards. In Pike County, Ohio, SoftBank’s SB Energy is developing the 8-gigawatt PORTS-Pike Technology Campus at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, with a projected completion in 2028.
In Louisiana, Meta is spearheading the $50 billion Hyperion AI infrastructure project in Richland Parish. According to the Data Center Index, this 2,250-acre "Titan Cluster" is designed for training next-generation large language models and is slatd for completion in 2028. Meanwhile, the Nexus Data Centers campus in Hubbard, Texas, is expected to reach a 7.7-gigawatt capacity by October 2027, and Creekstone Energy is building the Delta Gigasite near Delta, Utah, which aims to scale toward 10 gigawatts over time.
From 100 megawatts to the scale of Los Angeles' power grid
The sheer magnitude of these projects marks a fundamental shift in the digital landscape. Eric Masanet, a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, noted in a report by Newsweek that prior to the AI boom, a 100-megawatt facility was considered very large. These new 3-gigawatt-plus campuses are orders of magnitude larger, designed specifically to host centralized AI computing.
This expansion brings significant strain to local resources. Masanet pointed out that a single 3-gigawatt campus would require roughly half of the peak power capacity recorded in Los Angeles. While these massive sites are highly visible and disruptive, they represent only one segment of the market; the vast majority of data centers serving conventional internet tasks will likely remain much smaller.
Creekstone Energy's bid to become a net water producer in Utah
As these facilities expand, the environmental impact on water and electricity has become a central point of contention. Creekstone Energy’s CEO, Ray Conley, told Newsweek that the Delta Gigasite is designed to minimize water usage through patent-pending technology. This method aims to capture water vapor from on-site natural gas power generation, potentially making the site a net water producer by generating over 4,000 acre-feet of water annually.
To mitigate electrical grid concerns, Conley stated that Creekstone Energy's generation is "behind the meter" and built on-site. This approach is intended to prevent any impact on utility rates for Utah residents or businesses.. However, the project will still operate under a Utah Division of Air Quality permit with specific emissions limits.
Unanswered questions for Meta and SoftBank as public sentiment shifts
Significant uncertainties remain regarding the operational details and environmental claims of these massive developers. Newsweek reported that they have reached out to Meta, SoftBank , and other listed operators for confirmation of site details, but these companies have yet to respond. Furthermore, while Creekstone Energy claims its technology could make the Delta Gigasite a net water producer, the company admits this is a modeled estimate rather than data from commercial-scale operations.
The political landscape is also shifting as these projects move forward. While Donald Trump has characterized data centers as essential drivrs of prosperity and strategic competition with China, public opinion is cooling. A recent Pew Research Center survey indicated that American views on the economic and environmental effects of these projects have become more negative since the beginning of the year.
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