US Data‑Center Construction Digest – December 9-12, 2025
This digest summarizes U.S. data‑center construction news reported between December 9 and December 15, 2025. Projects are listed with the most recent announcements first. Each entry notes the developer, location and scale, estimated investment and timeline, current project status (planning or under development), and notable details or contractors.
| Developer / Project | Location & scale | Investment & timeline | Project status | Notes & contractors |
| Vantage/Frontier Campus – Shackelford County, TX | Proposed AI/hyperscale campus for OpenAI and Oracle on ~1,200 acres with 10 single‑story data centers totaling ~3.7 million sq ft and 1.4 GW of IT capacity; racks designed for 250 kW+ densities. | $25 billion+ investment; first building scheduled to go live H2 2026. | Under development – ground broken in early December; anchor tenants OpenAI and Oracle; part of OpenAI’s “Stargate” program. | Vantage is developing the campus along U.S. Highway 283. The project will create thousands of construction jobs. Power agreements include local natural gas power, battery storage and new transmission lines. |
| Microsoft data center rezoning – Grand Rapids, MI | Microsoft seeks to rezone 40.5 acres on Patterson Avenue within a 316‑acre parcel it bought for $45.3 million for potential data‑center development. | The request will be heard on Dec 18; no construction timeline announced. | Planning – rezoning stage. | The land was previously zoned for a large‑scale planned unit development. Microsoft’s application aims to classify it as light industrial to allow data‑center use. |
| MillCompute AI data center – Lewiston (Bates Mill No. 3), ME | MillCompute LLC proposes converting part of the historic Bates Mill No. 3 into an 85,000 sq ft Tier III data center. The facility would occupy the first two floors and bring 20–30 jobs. | Would produce ≈$800 k in annual tax revenue; needs City Council approval (vote slated for Dec 16). | Planning – awaiting local approval. | Proposal has drawn some community opposition. Developers plan to use green energy and aim for LEED certification. |
| Fermi Project Matador – Amarillo, TX (update) | Fermi Holdings aims to build an 11 GW, 18 million sq ft data‑center campus powered by gas, solar, wind and nuclear. The first two phases (1.1 GW) would cost $2 billion. | A letter of intent from the first prospective tenant expired, causing Fermi’s stock to drop. Fermi says it is seeking other tenants. | Planning – site remains in search of anchor tenants. | Despite the setback, Fermi continues permitting and engineering work. The project’s full buildout is estimated at $60 billion. |
| Oracle denies OpenAI data‑center delays | Oracle responded to reports that some OpenAI hyperscale campuses might be delayed to 2028, insisting all milestones are on schedule. | Not a construction announcement; clarifies timeline concerns. | – | Oracle partners with Vantage, Related Digital and other developers on “Stargate” campuses. |
| Lightpath repurposes prison into network facility – York County, PA | Fiber‑network operator Lightpath is converting a former county prison into a 7,700 sq ft in‑line amplifier facility (network hub). | Under development – repurposing infrastructure. | The facility will enable expansion of Lightpath’s fiber network. It is not a full‑scale data center but serves as backbone infrastructure. | |
| Council denies 1,057‑acre data‑center rezoning near New Carlisle, IN | St. Joseph County officials denied zoning for a $12 billion, 1,057‑acre data‑center campus (unidentified developer). Project identity remains secret. | Denial came after strong community opposition and allegations of “swatting” against a councilwoman. | Planning – blocked. | The applicant may appeal or alter plans. The proposed campus remains controversial. |
| Oracle data‑center delays (report vs. denial) | A Bloomberg report suggested Oracle might delay some OpenAI data centers from 2027 to 2028 due to material shortages. Oracle denied the delays. | – | Highlights the strain on supply chains for hyperscale data‑center construction. | |
| Microsoft to launch East US 3 cloud region – Atlanta metro, GA | Microsoft announced a new cloud region scheduled for 2027. Facilities under development in Fulton County, East Point and Douglasville (Cobb County) will support the region. The company also has other U.S. expansions (Illinois, Wyoming, Arizona, Virginia, Texas) and purchased a 347‑acre property near Rome, GA for a future campus. | Launch in 2027; specific MW or square footage not disclosed. | Under development – early‑phase construction and site acquisition. | The region will provide additional resiliency and capacity for Microsoft’s Azure customers in the Southeast. |
| Oppidan withdraws North Mankato data‑center plans – MN | Oppidan Investment Co. withdrew plans for a data‑center campus near North Mankato amid concerns over permitting diesel generators and environmental impacts. | No details on scale or timeline were provided. | Planning – canceled/paused. | The city continues to explore a potential technology park via an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR). |
| Project Skyway data center – Pine Island, MN | Planning commission recommended rezoning 482 acres from agricultural to industrial for Project Skyway (developer: Ryan Companies). The site would be leased to an unnamed Fortune 100 company and could host hyperscale facilities. | Final approval by local government expected Dec 16. | Planning – rezoning stage. | Residents have filed petitions and called for a moratorium. Developers said they’ll share more details after the rezoning decision. |
| InfraKey Capital data center campus – Lacy Lakeview, TX | City council approved a non‑binding agreement for a 520‑acre campus north of Waco, with six data centers totaling 1 GW. Project cost up to $10 billion. | If the developer obtains financing and partners, construction would take 4–5 years. | Planning – early stage with memorandum of understanding. | Locals expressed concerns about noise and power consumption. The campus would be near I‑35 and interchange with FM 3055. |
| 150 MW data center proposed – Baltimore County, MD | Security Land & Development LP proposed a 150 MW data center on a 42-acre site in Woodlawn. Construction could begin June/July 2026. | Developer will donate 5 acres for a substation and purchase a local motel to create a buffer. | Planning – public hearings underway. | Residents and local officials demanded more transparency. |
| Google’s Fort Wayne data center – Fort Wayne, IN | Google announced that its Project Zodiac data center is now operational. The campus comprises 12 buildings on 700 acres and will employ up to 200 people. | Investment not disclosed (announced at ~$2 billion in 2024). | Operational – project delivered. | Google is funding local roadway, wetlands restoration and emergency response improvements. |
Key trends and insights:
- Mega‑campuses for AI: Vantage’s 1.4 GW Frontier campus in Texas underscores the surge in AI‑driven hyperscale builds. These campuses emphasize extremely high rack densities and rely on strong partnerships (Vantage, OpenAI, Oracle). Similar multi‑gigawatt campuses are being planned in Michigan, Wisconsin and Virginia as part of OpenAI’s “Stargate” program.
- Ongoing rezoning battles: Several projects face local opposition and permitting hurdles—Project Skyway in Minnesota and Grand Rapids, Baltimore County, Lacy Lakeview and the Amarillo and New Carlisle proposals. Communities raise concerns over water use, noise and environmental impacts, prompting requests for moratoria and careful site review.
- Smaller regional developments: MillCompute’s 85k SF AI data center in Maine and Lightpath’s network facility conversion highlight that smaller regional projects continue alongside mega‑campuses. They emphasize local job creation and re‑use of existing properties.
- Supply‑chain pressures: Reports of potential delays to Oracle‑linked projects and Fermi’s difficulty securing tenants point to labor and financing challenges. Oracle denies delays, but the high capital requirements for AI‑ready campuses may outpace current supply chains.Top of Form