Meta’s 5 GW Louisiana Expansion, AWS Hobart Buildout, and Google Georgia Campus Signal Major Data Center Growth

July developments show hyperscalers expanding large data center campuses as power strategy drives capacity planning across key markets.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, August 11, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Aterio, a provider of continuously updated data center intelligence, released its August 2026 US Datacenter Monthly industry update. The report summarizes major development activity observed during July 2026 across North America, including hyperscale campus expansions, behind-the-meter power strategies, large land acquisitions, construction progress, and early-stage project filings.

Aterio publishes monthly industry updates informed by its daily-updated subscription dataset, which tracks active, under-construction, and announced data center projects.

JULY 2026 DATA CENTER OVERVIEW

July activity was led by several large-scale AI and cloud campuses moving forward across Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, and Alberta. Major providers continued to expand planned capacity, while power strategy remained central to project development.

Behind-the-meter generation, dedicated natural gas plants, grid interconnections, and hyperscaler-specific campus designs are increasingly shaping which projects appear positioned to move forward.

LARGE-SCALE AI CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT

Meta Expands Hyperion Campus to 5 GW (LA): Meta has expanded its Hyperion campus in Richland Parish, Louisiana from 2 GW to 5 GW of IT capacity, with total investment projected to reach up to $50 billion. The expansion positions Hyperion as one of the largest AI-focused data center campuses currently planned in North America.

Circe Energy Plans 2 GW Behind-the-Meter AI Campus (TX): Circe Energy is developing a 1,950-acre AI infrastructure campus in West Texas powered entirely by a behind-the-meter microgrid using Cummins natural gas generators. The project is planned to scale from 10 MW in 2026 to 1.1 GW by 2030, with potential expansion to 2 GW.

Meta Announces First Canadian Data Center in Alberta (AB): Meta has announced its first Canadian data center in Sturgeon County, Alberta. The 1 GW AI-optimized campus spans 1,750 acres and carries a projected US$9.17 billion investment. The campus will be powered by the 932 MW Greenlight Electricity Centre natural gas plant, with four data center buildings shown in project renderings.

HYPERSCALE CAMPUS EXPANSION AND CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

AWS Expands Hobart Campus to Approximately 2 GW (IN): Latest filings indicate Amazon Web Services is expanding its Hobart Data Center Campus from six to 26 planned buildings, bringing the full development to approximately 2 GW of facility power capacity. Construction is already underway, with Aterio first confirming large-scale site clearing in March 2026.

Microsoft Restarts 869 MW Licking County Buildout (OH): Microsoft has restarted construction across its Heath, Hebron, and New Albany campuses in Licking County, Ohio, totaling 17 buildings and approximately 869 MW. June 2026 satellite imagery confirms active site clearing and mass grading after the projects were paused in April 2025, with operations still targeted by the end of 2029.

QTS Plans 11-Building Campus at Lancium’s Clean Campus (TX): QTS plans to build 11 data centers on Lancium’s Clean Campus in Hall County, Texas, representing a $10 billion investment across 465 acres anchored by a 1 GW grid connection.

POWER-BACKED SITES AND BEHIND-THE-METER DEVELOPMENT

Big Digital Energy Acquires Power-Ready Site in Hood County (TX): Big Digital Energy, through a 50:50 joint venture with 10NetZero, has acquired a 50-acre power-ready site in Hood County, Texas with 17 MW of existing capacity. The site is expandable to 111 MW from the grid and up to 311 MW with behind-the-meter natural gas generation.

EARLY-STAGE DEVELOPMENT AND HYPERSCALER SIGNALS

Spring Valley Technology Park Aligns With AWS Design Standards (VA): Spring Valley Technology Park remains pending approval in Loudoun County, Virginia, with plans for 12 data center buildings totaling approximately 3.17 million square feet and roughly 858 MW across 362 acres. Updated renderings closely match Amazon Web Services’ standard campus design, reinforcing AWS as the likely hyperscaler behind the project.

Google Confirmed as End User for 8 Million Square Foot Georgia Campus (GA): Google has been confirmed as the sole end user and operator of the planned Columbia County data center campus in Georgia. The project includes 23 buildings totaling approximately 8 million square feet across 1,900 acres northwest of White Oak Business Park.

Crusoe Explores 100 MW Project Flash in Virginia (VA): Crusoe is exploring Project Flash, a proposed 100 MW data center at Summit View Business Park in Franklin County, Virginia. Project layout, tenants, and development timeline have not yet been disclosed.

MARKET OUTLOOK

July developments show continued growth in very large AI-focused data center campuses, with Meta, AWS, Microsoft, Google, QTS, and emerging power-backed developers advancing projects across multiple regions.

Power strategy remains one of the clearest themes. Behind-the-meter generation, dedicated natural gas plants, grid-backed campuses, and large land positions are increasingly shaping where capacity is planned and which projects appear positioned to advance.

ABOUT ATERIO

Aterio provides real-time, facility-level intelligence on data center development, power demand, and digital infrastructure growth. Its continuously updated subscription dataset tracks active, under-construction, and announced data center projects, supporting energy-market participants, infrastructure investors, and strategic planners.

Learn more at https://www.aterio.io

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