The US data centre pipeline expanded by 54 GW in the second quarter of 2026, a 29% increase year-on-year and 5% rise from the previous quarter, according to an analysis published by Wood Mackenzie. The cumulative disclosed pipeline now exceeds 430 GW, with approximately 59% of capacity under active development. Nearly 80 GW of projects are under construction, up from 44 GW at the end of the first quarter, increasing the pressure to secure sufficient electricity supply as development accelerates.

However, access to power and local opposition remain significant barriers to deployment. Wood Mackenzie senior analyst Caitlin Connelly said projects were progressing from early development towards permitting and construction, but warned that power availability and community resistance would constrain near-term growth. Since January 2026, state and local lawmakers have introduced more than 400 data centre moratoriums across 42 states, affecting 18% of tracked sites and more than 100 GW of planned capacity.

PJM and ERCOT account for nearly half of capacity under development

Data centre development is increasingly concentrated in a small number of US electricity markets. The PJM and ERCOT grid regions account for nearly half of all capacity under development. PJM has moved ahead of ERCOT in total development capacity, with approximately 20 GW of new projects entering active development in the first half of 2026. ERCOT, meanwhile, has a more advanced pipeline, with more than 40% of its development capacity already under construction.

The sector is also concentrated among a limited number of developers. The five largest account for a quarter of both planned and active development capacity, while total disclosed planned capital expenditure exceeds US$2.3 trillion nationally.

Utility commitments level off as projects move towards agreements

High-confidence utility commitments plateaued at approximately 300 GW in the second quarter, as some utilities revised their reported pipelines to remove speculative projects. Within this total, capacity backed by signed electricity service or construction agreements reached 201 GW, indicating that more projects are progressing towards formal commitments.

Wood Mackenzie identifies PJM as particularly exposed to electricity supply risks. Its assessment of supply available through 2036 falls short of the market's high-confidence load commitments, highlighting the challenge of matching planned data centre demand with future power availability.

More than 400 moratoriums put planned projects under scrutiny

Local opposition has emerged as a further constraint on development. The most significant individual measure identified by Wood Mackenzie is Texas's September 2026 pause on new data centre permits and audit of the existing pipeline, which places more than 60 GW of planned projects tracked by the firm under scrutiny.

Although the number of moratoriums has risen sharply compared with the 45 actions recorded across 2023–2025, Wood Mackenzie notes that 92% target land-use or zoning approvals and last an average of six to 12 months. Connelly said the measures suggest lawmakers are seeking time to establish stronger regulatory frameworks rather than imposing outright bans.

The analysis points to a growing challenge for the US data centre sector: translating an expanding project pipeline into operational capacity amid constraints on electricity supply, permitting and local acceptance.