Development of data centers is surging across the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex, and the party is really just getting started. According to research from JLL, DFW is the fourth-largest data center market in the country in terms of supply with approximately 3.7 million square feet of inventory providing 505 critical megawatts of power. DFW’s development pipeline spans more than 1.1 million square feet of new projects totaling about 215 critical megawatts that are either planned or already under construction. Data centers typically produce about 150 watts of power per square foot. A facility’s total power intake minus the portion needed to cool the equipment represents its critical megawattage — its true capacity for storing and processing data. A number of state-level factors have contributed to DFW’s rapid ascension up the national data center ladder. Texas possesses a great deal of fiber optic connectivity, which gives users fast, reliable transmission of data and helps reduce costs. In addition, the state has its own power grid, as well as an abundant, cheap supply of natural gas to fuel power costs, which are typically the most expensive operating item for data centers. An arid climate, ample available land and friendly development policies have …
