Now live: Spark AI Data Center Rankings by State

This year New York passed the nation's first statewide data center moratorium. Texas paused 1,800 projects. Yet they sit at opposite ends of our new state-by-state Data Center State Tracker.

Since January, 46 states have gotten worse for data centers. Texas is one of only four that got better; even with the recent pause, it has a steady pipeline and low opposition.

In data center development, the news headline and the underlying trends often point in opposite directions. Another example: Wisconsin's sales tax exemption is still pulling construction in, even as both gubernatorial candidates commit to cracking down.

That's why we're releasing our 2026 Spark AI Data Center Rankings. Every state's active pipeline, historical growth, moratoria, and opposition in one place.

We're tracking not just where data centers have been built, but also what the tea leaves are saying.

The biggest takeaways:
🥇 🥈  Texas and Virginia still lead, by a lot. Their pipelines are more than twice any other state's. Even with signs of slowing, the gap between these two and everyone else is enormous.
🥉 📈 Arizona is the fastest riser. It's jumped 13 spots since January on the back of new approvals, and it approves 89% of projects — the highest rate of any state with a significant pipeline.
📢 🪧 Midwest opposition is fierce. Missouri has among the highest opposition rates in the country, with Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota close behind. In Ohio, opposition has hardened into law: 23% of counties have enacted some kind of data center moratorium.
💹 🏗️ Four states are strengthening their commitments to data centers: Texas, Kentucky, Arizona, and Alaska. Everywhere else is hitting the brakes.

A lot of permits are meeting a lot of resistance. Texas and Virginia lead. Arizona and Kentucky are climbing fastest. And New York is saying, "No way" state-wide.

Which states do you think will lead next year?

See the full ranking here: