Arcnem OrbitOrbital Briefing for Data Centers and Commodities

Data Centers brief

Widespread Hyperscale Data Center Expansion Evident Across Key U.S. Regions

MODIS true-color imagery reveals significant large-scale construction and power infrastructure growth at major data center campuses in Loudoun County (VA), Memphis (TN), New Albany (OH), and Phoenix West Valley (AZ). These developments reflect accelerating hyperscale data center capacity driven by AI and cloud demand, with notable implications for regional power grids and regulatory landscapes.

Sites tracked

4 sites

Coverage window

May 17

Update cadence

May 18, 1:03 PM

This week's highlights

  • Loudoun County shows expanded electrical infrastructure supporting rapid hyperscale data center growth.
  • Memphis campus construction aligns with new regulations enabling self-powered data centers in Tennessee.
  • New Albany and Phoenix West Valley exhibit strong construction momentum amid power and community challenges.

Major changes

4 sites

Sites to watch

0 sites

No major shift

0 sites

Data Centers

The latest view across each tracked data-center campus.

These updates focus on large campus buildout signals such as building shells, substations, cooling yards, and broad site preparation.

Loudoun Data Center Alley true-color satellite scene captured on 2026-05-17
Major change

High confidence

Loudoun Data Center Alley

Loudoun County, Virginia · Multi-operator cluster · May 17 vs Apr 20

Continued Large-Scale Construction at Loudoun Data Center Alley with Expanded Electrical Infrastructure

Significant new building foundations and extensive utility trenches and electrical infrastructure installation observed compared to baseline imagery.

What changedSince the baseline on 2026-04-20, the site shows additional building pads and expanded electrical infrastructure including substations and utility trenches, indicating accelerated development of a hyperscale data center campus.

Why it mattersThis large-scale construction and electrical infrastructure expansion reflects the ongoing rapid growth of hyperscale data centers in Loudoun County, Virginia, a key U.S. data center hub. The development aligns with broader regional and national trends of increasing power demand and grid strain driven by AI and cloud computing facilities, underscoring the importance of transmission upgrades and regulatory oversight.

Memphis Data Center Campus true-color satellite scene captured on 2026-05-17
Major change

High confidence

Memphis Data Center Campus

Memphis, Tennessee · Hyperscale campus · May 17 vs Apr 20

Major Construction Progress at Memphis Data Center Campus with Visible Utility Infrastructure Expansion

Significant new building shells, extensive road networks, and visible power infrastructure have emerged at the Memphis Data Center Campus since the baseline, transforming the site from a dense forest with minimal clearing to a large-scale data center construction zone.

What changedThe baseline image showed dense forest with only faint clearing and no identifiable data center structures or utility infrastructure. The current image reveals multiple large buildings under construction, extensive road networks, and visible power lines and access roads supporting the campus.

Why it mattersThis large-scale construction and utility infrastructure development indicates rapid campus buildout consistent with hyperscale data center expansion. The visible power infrastructure aligns with recent regulatory changes enabling self-powering data centers in Tennessee, highlighting the site's strategic importance and potential impact on regional power demand and logistics.

New Albany Data Center Cluster true-color satellite scene captured on 2026-05-17
Major change

High confidence

New Albany Data Center Cluster

New Albany, Ohio · Hyperscale cluster · May 17 vs Apr 20

New Albany Data Center Cluster Shows Significant Construction Progress and Infrastructure Expansion

Satellite imagery from May 17, 2026, reveals notable new concrete slabs, expanded building foundations, and upgraded access roads compared to the baseline image from April 20, 2026. Additionally, visible utility infrastructure such as substations and power lines have expanded, indicating scaling out of the hyperscale data center cluster.

What changedCompared to the baseline, there is clear evidence of new building foundations and concrete slabs completed, expanded staging and cleared land areas, and upgraded or additional access roads. Utility infrastructure footprints, including substations and power lines, have increased in size or number, supporting the cluster's growth.

Why it mattersThis visible expansion aligns with Ohio's significant tax incentives for data center development and the regional utility provider's forecasted doubling of power demand by 2030 largely driven by data centers. The rapid construction progress at this hyperscale cluster indicates strong momentum in data center capacity growth in New Albany, Ohio, which has implications for regional power infrastructure and economic development.

Phoenix West Valley Data Centers true-color satellite scene captured on 2026-05-17
Major change

High confidence

Phoenix West Valley Data Centers

West Valley, Arizona · Multi-operator cluster · May 17 vs Apr 20

Significant Construction Progress at Phoenix West Valley Data Centers Campus

Between April 20 and May 17, 2026, satellite imagery shows a clear transition from early-stage land preparation with scattered structures and dirt roads to a large-scale data center construction site featuring multiple building foundations, adjacent utility lines, and access roads.

What changedThe site has advanced from partial development with no visible data center infrastructure to extensive campus-scale construction activity including multiple building pads and utility tie-ins, indicating accelerated development.

Why it mattersThis visible expansion and infrastructure development at a major multi-operator data center cluster in the West Valley of Arizona underscores the ongoing growth of hyperscale data center capacity in a region facing community pushback and power infrastructure challenges, as reported in recent news. The scale of construction suggests continued investment despite local opposition and highlights the importance of monitoring power and water-cooling infrastructure developments at desert sites.

How it works

The weekly brief stays grounded in what the imagery can actually show.

Orbit covers both data centers and commodities, surfacing the clear macro-scale shifts that matter most.

01

Collect fresh orbital scenes

Gather fresh imagery for fixed data-center and commodity sites.

02

Stick to macro signals

Review only features the imagery can support, such as building shells, pits, ponds, stockpile yards, berths, and land disturbance.

03

Pair visuals with reporting

Combine the imagery read with current reporting so each weekly brief explains what changed and why it matters.