Dallas ranks No. 1 for data centers, report says
Dallas has been ranked as the top data center market globally due to its suitable land, power infrastructure, and attractiveness for workers. However, this growth has led to increased opposition and state-level government intervention. Governor Greg Abbott has requested an audit and temporary pause on new data center grid connections due to concerns about electricity demand.
The article reports that Dallas, Texas, has been identified as the leading global market for data centers, surpassing Virginia for the first time in 25 years, according to a report by real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. Roxanne Marquis, a veteran data center real estate agent, attributes Dallas's appeal to abundant land for large data center campuses, robust power infrastructure, and a desirable living environment for workers.
However, this rapid growth has sparked increased opposition from residents and prompted action from state officials. Governor Greg Abbott has requested the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to audit data centers seeking to connect to the state's grid. This directive has resulted in a temporary pause on new data center connections, driven by concerns over ERCOT's current consideration of 474 gigawatts of connection requests, significantly exceeding its record peak electricity demand. Despite these regulatory hurdles, Marquis views the required grid build-out as a positive development.