Arizona Data Center News

Sep 22, 2025

The FDI shake-up: How foreign direct investment today may shape industry and trade tomorrow

MGI published a report analyzing announced greenfield FDI projects (2015–May 2025) and finds a decisive shift of announced investment toward future-shaping industries such as data centers (AI infrastructure), semiconductors, EVs/batteries, critical minerals, and low-emissions energy.

Main finding: The report analyzes roughly 180,000–200,000 announced greenfield FDI projects and shows that since 2022 ~75% of cross-border announcements target future-shaping industries and resources; announced annualized greenfield FDI rose from $1,137 billion (2015–19) to $1,407 billion (2022–May 2025), driven largely by megadeals (>$1 billion) that now account for about half of total announced value. Key sector details: data centers ≈ $170 billion/yr (since 2022; could reach >$370 billion if early-2025 pace continues), semiconductor-related ≈ $115 billion/yr to new fabs, low-emissions energy ≈ $330 billion/yr (three-quarters of energy announcements), and announced hydrogen ≈ $160 billion/yr (high uncertainty; few projects in construction).
Background and additional details: The shift is geopolitically patterned—advanced economies increased investments among themselves (US attracted large inflows, boosted by Advanced Asia investors), while announced inflows to China fell by nearly 70% relative to the earlier period. About 200 megadeals annually (≈1% of deals) drive most value; examples and specifics: TSMC accounted for roughly $100 billion of early-2025 US-directed announcements, the Calcasieu Parish LNG project cited at $17.5 billion, and several large EV/battery gigafactories with targeted openings in 2025–2026. The report emphasizes that announcements are not firm commitments (historical realization rates vary), cites 60–80% typical realization, and notes many hydrogen megaprojects have not reached construction.

Sep 9, 2025

The infrastructure moment

McKinsey has released a report estimating $106 trillion of infrastructure investment is needed globally through 2040, spanning seven verticals and urging integrated, cross‑vertical planning.

Key announcement and figures: The report projects $106 trillion cumulative investment needed by 2040 across seven verticals — transport and logistics $36 trillion, energy and power $23 trillion, digital $19 trillion, social $16 trillion, waste and water $6 trillion, agriculture $5 trillion, and defense $2 trillion — and highlights that Asia could account for ~$70 trillion of the total. It also notes private infrastructure AUM rose from ~$500 billion (2016) to $1.5 trillion (2024) and recommends integrated policy and financing approaches to mobilize private capital.
Background, partnerships, and implementation details: The report documents cross‑vertical capital flows and named partnerships and commitments, including the Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership (BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners, MGX, Microsoft) aiming to raise up to $100 billion (starting with $30 billion in private equity) to build data centers and supporting power infrastructure, and ADQ’s partnership with Energy Capital Partners to invest more than $25 billion (initial $5 billion capital infusion) to develop 25 gigawatts of US power generation and infrastructure. It also cites regional allocations (Asia ~$70 trillion, Americas ~$16 trillion, Europe ~$13 trillion) and specific local initiatives (e.g., NSW AU$80 million innovation fund to fast‑track projects).

Aug 13, 2025

Phoenix cooling lab showcases hybrid data center cooling capabilities

Aligned Data Centers has unveiled an Advanced Cooling Lab in Phoenix to test advanced cooling technologies for high-powered AI chips and hybrid air/liquid cooling systems.

Confirmed action: Aligned opened the Advanced Cooling Lab in Phoenix showcasing its modular, hybrid infrastructure that supports both air and liquid cooling, including the Delta Cube air-cooling system (supports 1 kW to 50 kW rack densities) and the DeltaFlow~ liquid cooling system with a flooded room design, microchannel coils, a robust structural ceiling grid, and [megawatt]-scale liquid cooling loops. The company also maintains an “auto-replenished pool” of prefabricated power and cooling equipment for rapid deployment.
Planned initiatives & partnerships: The lab uses controls developed by Divcon Controls (technology deployed across 100 North American data centers) to test liquid- and hybrid-cooled system governance that Divcon says can reduce end-user energy consumption by 15% on average; Divcon’s stated goal is to enable next-generation, high-density AI data centers to operate efficiently and reliably.

Aug 8, 2025

The data center balance: How US states can navigate the opportunities and challenges

The article by McKinsey authors analyzes the rapid growth and investment in data center infrastructure driven by AI and cloud computing demand in the United States.

$7 trillion global investment by 2030, with over 40% in the US; Northern Virginia holds 13% of global capacity, demonstrating strategic regional growth.
Challenges include power supply strain (460 TWh increase by 2030), water scarcity, resource bottlenecks, and community pushback; Ohio’s $10B+ AWS expansion and AEP’s $2.82B transmission build-out exemplify coordinated infrastructure and workforce initiatives.

Jul 30, 2025

Climate Change Solutions - July 29, 2025

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) newsletter highlights recent climate change solutions, legislative updates, and upcoming events.

Innovative technologies such as AI-driven disaster resilience tools by U.S. National Laboratories and upgraded air filters to reduce wildfire smoke injuries are featured.
Legislative progress includes the Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act passed by the House, the La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act advancing with job creation and solar capacity details, and the Fire Ready Nation Act advancing in the Senate to enhance wildfire forecasting.
Upcoming briefings focus on Ohio River restoration and the intersection of AI and climate policy.
The newsletter also provides links to recordings of the 28th annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and related policy forums.
EESI President Daniel Bresette is quoted on energy and AI topics; contact details and social media links for EESI are provided.

Jul 23, 2025

Protected: Where the Power Flows: The Top 10 Hyperscale Data Centers by Load in North America — Powered by Enverus Instant Analyst™

Enverus has announced insights into the top 10 largest hyperscale data centers by load in North America, highlighting key locations and their energy consumption.

Top data centers include Microsoft Azure, Meta, Vantage Data Centers, and Colocation America with loads ranging from 590 MW to 1,862 MW.
Enverus offers tools like Instant Analyst™ and PRISM™ to accelerate data center siting by analyzing power demand, pricing, and land suitability, supporting faster and more informed infrastructure development.

Jul 23, 2025 · Startup Stash

Pixels Are Thirsty: The Hidden Water Crisis Behind Data Centers, AI Art, And Digital Hype

The article highlights the hidden environmental cost of water consumption by data centers powering the internet, AI art, and digital services.

Tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon use billions of gallons of water annually for evaporative cooling of data centers, often located in water-scarce regions such as Arizona, Oregon, Chile, India, and Spain.
Local communities in places like The Dalles, Oregon, and Mesa, Arizona, have pushed back against data center expansions due to water scarcity concerns, resulting in increased transparency and stricter regulations.

Jul 15, 2025

Accelerating the delivery of tech-focused capital projects

The article by McKinsey authors Bill Wiseman, Matthieu Dussud, Piotr Pikul, and Katy Bartlett outlines strategies to address significant challenges in the global construction industry amid a surge in capital investment.

Global construction investment is projected at $16.3 trillion in 2025, with major initiatives such as the US Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ($1.2 trillion), EU Chips Act ($50 billion), and Saudi Arabia’s $1.25 trillion capital projects driving demand. The industry faces stagnant productivity, labor shortages, supply chain delays, material price volatility, and regulatory complexities.
The authors propose three key actions: (1) developing contracting strategies that optimize resource utilization and scope division, (2) assessing risks using frameworks like TEMPO to create competitive bidding and compensation strategies including collaborative contracting, and (3) analyzing market strengths to bridge capability gaps through partnerships and digital technology adoption such as generative scheduling and BIM.

These approaches aim to improve project delivery efficiency, reduce costs, and manage risks effectively, leveraging digital tools and advanced contracting methods to capitalize on the current investment surge in infrastructure and advanced technology manufacturing.

Jun 25, 2025

LG Energy Solutions opens LFP battery cell manufacturing plant in Michigan

Jun 23, 2025

Arizona Data Center Intel

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