BI's reporters from our award-winning data centers package share what they're watching this year
Business Insider
February 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The rapid growth of data centers in America has sparked significant attention from media and industry experts, as highlighted by Business Insider's recent George Polk Award-winning coverage. The journalists involved share their insights on key trends and challenges to watch in 2025. Hannah Beckler emphasizes concerns over water and electricity usage for AI computing power, questioning whether tech companies will follow through on grid infrastructure investments and if alternative energy strategies might harm air quality or deplete local water resources.
Dakin Campbell addresses Wall Street's unease about the sustainability of data center spending driven by the AI boom. He points to potential risks such as circular investment deals in AI labs, reliance on Big Tech's creditworthiness for backing massive projects, and supply chain bottlenecks that could delay construction and inflate costs. Robert Leslie discusses leveraging satellite imagery to monitor data center expansion trends, focusing on their staggering scale—like Meta’s "Hyperion" project in Louisiana, which dwarfs landmarks like Central Park—and their growing impact on rural communities.
This coverage underscores the critical intersection of technology infrastructure, environmental sustainability, and economic stability, offering readers a comprehensive view of how these factors shape the future of data centers. For businesses and investors, understanding these dynamics is crucial for navigating opportunities and challenges in this evolving sector.
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Originally published on Business Insider on 2/22/2026