Data Centers Consume 4.4% of US Power as Construction Costs Soar 50% and Worker Shortages Mount

Data centers now devour 4.4% of US electricity and could consume up to 12% more by 2028, while construction costs skyrocket 50% due to tariffs and severe worker shortages threaten expansion of America's 11,800 facilities that each guzzle half a million gallons of water daily.

• Data centers consume approximately 4.4% of America's electrical power as of 2023, with energy growth projected to increase 6.7-12% by 2028, while some facilities require up to 500,000 gallons of water daily for cooling operations
• The United States leads globally with the largest number of data centers among 11,800 worldwide facilities, though construction faces significant barriers including Trump administration tariffs raising costs by 25-50% on copper, steel, and aluminum
• Workforce shortages plague data center expansion with insufficient electricians and construction workers, compounded by immigration policies that limit access to needed technical talent including the estimated 30% of construction workers who are immigrants