Why power access is critical to data center site locations | Construction Dive

An article from Q&A Why power access is critical to data center site locations Data center leaders at Gallagher, a Chicago-based consulting firm, discuss energy constraints on the construction boom and onsite risks. Published April 7, 2026 Sebastian Obando Reporter Share Copy link Email LinkedIn X/Twitter Facebook Print License Add us on Google High voltage power lines run through a substation along the electrical power grid on Jan. 14, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Joe Raedle/Getty Images via Getty Images Listen to the article 5 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Access to reliable power is increasingly becoming the holy grail developers chase in the race to build data centers. Tech companies over the past year have poured massive investments into data center construction. Demand for the facilities have propped up construction activity as a whole, and will likely continue to do so. But skyrocketing demand alone is not enough for construction crews to break ground on these builds. Savvy developers are now increasingly turning their attention to power needs before shovels hit the ground. Here, Tom Harper and Jodi Harper, data center leaders at Gallagher, a Chicago-based insurance, risk management and consulting firm, talk with Construction Dive about power constraints on data center development and new risks emerging on these construction sites. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. CONSTRUCTION DIVE: What’s the biggest chang...