Meta, AWS and Google push major data center expansion in July

Aterio’s July 2026 update shows hyperscalers and power-backed developers accelerating large campus builds across North America, with Meta, AWS, Microsoft and Google among the biggest movers. The projects underscore how access to power is increasingly driving where new AI and cloud capacity gets built.

Why it matters: - The July pipeline points to another step up in very large AI and cloud infrastructure buildouts across North America. - Power access is becoming a primary filter for new capacity, with behind-the-meter generation, natural gas plants and grid connections shaping which campuses move forward. - The scale of the projects suggests continued demand for large, land-rich sites that can support gigawatt-level development.

What happened: - Aterio released its August 2026 US Datacenter Monthly industry update, covering development activity observed during July 2026. - The report tracks hyperscale campus expansions, behind-the-meter power strategies, land acquisitions, construction progress and early-stage filings across North America. - July activity was led by large AI and cloud campuses moving forward in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and Alberta. - Meta expanded its Hyperion campus in Richland Parish, Louisiana from 2 GW to 5 GW of IT capacity. - Meta’s Hyperion expansion carries total investment projected to reach up to $50 billion. - Amazon Web Services is expanding its Hobart Data Center Campus in Indiana from six to 26 planned buildings. - The full Hobart development is planned at approximately 2 GW of facility power capacity. - Microsoft restarted construction across its Heath, Hebron and New Albany campuses in Licking County, Ohio. - Google was confirmed as the sole end user and operator of the planned Columbia County data center campus in Georgia.

The details: - Aterio said its monthly updates are informed by a daily-updated subscription dataset that tracks active, under-construction and announced data center projects. - Circe Energy is developing a 1,950-acre AI infrastructure campus in West Texas powered by a behind-the-meter microgrid using Cummins natural gas generators. - Circe Energy plans to scale that project from 10 MW in 2026 to 1.1 GW by 2030, with potential expansion to 2 GW. - Meta announced its first Canadian data center in Sturgeon County, Alberta. - The Alberta campus is planned at 1 GW of AI-optimized capacity across 1,750 acres. - The Alberta project carries a projected US$9.17 billion investment. - The Alberta campus will be powered by the 932 MW Greenlight Electricity Centre natural gas plant. - Project renderings for the Alberta site show four data center buildings. - June 2026 satellite imagery confirms active site clearing and mass grading at Microsoft’s Licking County campuses after the projects were paused in April 2025. - Microsoft’s Ohio buildout totals 17 buildings and approximately 869 MW, with operations still targeted by the end of 2029. - QTS plans to build 11 data centers on Lancium’s Clean Campus in Hall County, Texas. - The QTS project represents a $10 billion investment across 465 acres anchored by a 1 GW grid connection. - Big Digital Energy, through a 50:50 joint venture with 10NetZero, acquired a 50-acre power-ready site in Hood County, Texas. - The Hood County site has 17 MW of existing capacity. - The site is expandable to 111 MW from the grid and up to 311 MW with behind-the-meter natural gas generation. - Spring Valley Technology Park remains pending approval in Loudoun County, Virginia. - The Virginia project plans 12 data center buildings totaling approximately 3.17 million square feet and roughly 858 MW across 362 acres. - Updated renderings for Spring Valley closely match Amazon Web Services’ standard campus design. - Crusoe is exploring Project Flash, a proposed 100 MW data center at Summit View Business Park in Franklin County, Virginia. - Project Flash’s layout, tenants and development timeline have not yet been disclosed. - The report highlights continued growth in very large AI-focused data center campuses by Meta, AWS, Microsoft, Google, QTS and emerging power-backed developers.

Between the lines: - The biggest projects are clustering around power solutions, not just land availability. - Hyperscalers appear to be favoring campuses that can be paired with dedicated generation or large grid commitments early in the planning process. - The size of these new campuses suggests developers are planning for multi-year AI demand growth rather than incremental expansion.

What's next: - More of the announced campuses will move through permitting, utility planning and construction timelines over the coming quarters. - The projects with the clearest power path and site control appear best positioned to advance. - Aterio said its dataset will continue tracking active, under-construction and announced projects as development patterns evolve.

The bottom line: - July’s update shows the data center race is increasingly a power race, with the largest winners likely to be the projects that can secure electricity at scale.