North American data center demand surged to a new peak in the first half of 2026, with JLL reporting 25 gigawatts of absorption across the region. According to the firm’s North America Data Center Report – Midyear 2026, that volume is twice the level recorded a year earlier and five times what the market absorbed two years ago, underscoring how quickly the sector has scaled.
The report characterizes this expansion as a structural trend, noting that underlying demand for data center capacity continues to accelerate. JLL emphasizes, however, that the next phase of industry growth will hinge on what it describes as responsible development. That includes bringing more transparency to project planning and engaging communities earlier around the potential impacts of data centers, particularly related to electricity use, water consumption and noise.
Survey findings cited in the report highlight a sharp divide between attitudes toward artificial intelligence and the infrastructure that supports it. Seventy-nine percent of Americans support U.S. leadership in AI, while only 14% support data center development in their own communities. JLL frames this 65-point gap as a risk factor that could limit the buildout of facilities needed to sustain AI competitiveness, even as technology demand continues to rise.
Andy Cvengros, executive managing director and co-lead of U.S. Data Center Markets at JLL, notes that current conditions are surpassing many industry forecasts. He states that market absorption reached 25 gigawatts in just six months, driven by hyperscalers, neocloud providers and pure-play AI companies that are competing for limited capacity. Cvengros adds that the key storyline at this stage is how community acceptance has emerged as the defining challenge for further expansion.
JLL’s analysis concludes that data center developers and local communities will need to work together to identify approaches that balance infrastructure requirements with local concerns. The report suggests that aligning these interests will be essential to sustaining both the sector’s momentum and broader AI ambitions in North America.
