A 100 MW data center site is a transmission project. The load connects at 138 kV or higher, the utility runs a formal study, and in many markets the grid operator weighs in. In 2026 the hard part is finding a site where 100 MW can actually be delivered on a known date. Land is usually easy. Invariant screens 100 MW candidates from power evidence first, and has energized and studied sites from 85 to 150 MW plus larger campuses that start with a 100 MW phase.
Before you start
- 100 MW at the meter is about 77 MW of IT at a PUE of 1.3, roughly 640 AI racks at 120 kW, about 46,000 GPUs.
- Expect 138 to 345 kV service. A 345 kV interconnection substation needs about 8.5 to 16.5 acres by ComEd’s 2026 guidelines.
- Land: 50 to 150 gross acres for a hyperscale or AI campus.
- In Texas a 100 MW load falls under SB 6 and ERCOT Batch Zero. In PJM, expect long studies and large-load tariff terms.
What 100 MW actually fits
Utilities sell facility load. Tenants buy IT load. At a PUE of 1.3, a 100 MW site leaves about 77 MW for IT. At about 120 kW per NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 rack, that is roughly 640 racks, or about 46,150 GPUs. Air-cooled designs at 30 to 50 kW per rack fit more racks and fewer GPUs per MW. Typical buyers at this size are an AI training campus, a hyperscale or colocation developer, or a large HPC tenant.eeNews Europe
| 100 MW site | What to expect |
|---|---|
| IT load at PUE 1.3 | About 77 MW |
| AI racks at 120 kW | About 640 |
| Utility service | 138 to 345 kV transmission service with a dedicated substation; two lines for redundancy. |
| Land | About 50 to 150 gross acres. |
| Time to power | Now to 18 months for energized or contracted sites; 3 to 5 years is common for new 100 MW service in constrained markets. |
| Documents to ask for | A system impact or load study for 100 MW, a facilities study with cost and schedule, and a signed service or construction agreement for anything you underwrite. |
These ranges are Invariant’s working figures from sites we have screened. They are not published standards, and individual utilities and designs land outside them.
Why 100 MW is hard in 2026
Queues filled up. ERCOT’s large-load queue passed 470 GW in 2026, far above what it could study. PJM’s 20-year forecast shows steep load growth driven largely by data centers. Utilities responded with study fees, collateral and minimum bills. A 100 MW site with a study and an agreement is worth far more than one with only land and a nearby line.ERCOTPJM Inside Lines
Paces found in ERCOT that only about 17% of substations near suitable land had any withdrawal headroom. A 100 MW buyer should screen substations first and parcels second.Paces
Where 100 MW sites come from
The best 100 MW sites we see come from four places: retired or retiring power plants with switchyards and land, energized mining campuses with large services, brownfield industrial plants, and utility or economic development marketed sites with a completed study. Each has its own diligence list, covered in our guides on retired plants, mining conversions and power evidence.
100 MW data center sites available now
These sites from Invariant’s current inventory fit a 100 MW requirement, either at that size today or with a phase that covers it. Specs are as marketed by the owner and are checked against utility documents before any introduction.
| Region | Power | Land | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest | 85 MW brownfield | ~20 acres | Now |
| Wisconsin | 150 MW built, 80 MW now | 130 ready acres | Now |
| North Carolina | 18 MW live, path past 100 MW | ~200 acres | Now |
| Oregon | 10 MW hydro, to 100 MW+ | Lease + land option | Now |
| Pennsylvania | 350 MW, signed utility service agreement | Former plant campus, lease | 50 MW end 2026, 300 MW end 2027 |
| Iowa | 20 MW to 500 MW+ PPA site | Non-zoned | Phased |
Exact locations, the utility documents behind each MW figure and pricing are shared on a call. We also hold sites that are not listed publicly; owners ask for discretion and a site that is shopped everywhere loses value.
How Invariant finds 100 MW sites
We search from power evidence first and land second. For a 100 MW request we start with stations and services that can carry the load, kill anything already claimed, operating for someone else, contaminated or under a moratorium, and only then look at parcels. Each surviving site is graded A (documented power), B (a named power path with a date) or C (land near capacity), with the one document that would move it up a tier.
Tell us the MW, the states you would consider and the date you need power. We send the 100 MW sites that fit, including ones that are not on this page.
Browse data center sites by size and state
Questions that come up.
How long does it take to get 100 MW of power for a data center?
Energized or contracted sites can be ready within 18 months. New 100 MW service commonly takes 3 to 5 years in constrained markets, driven by studies, transmission upgrades and transformer supply.
How many acres does a 100 MW data center need?
Roughly 50 to 150 gross acres for a hyperscale or AI campus, including substation, cooling, generators, stormwater and buffers. A mining site of the same size can fit on 20 to 50 acres.
Where can I find a 100 MW data center site for sale?
Invariant lists an 85 MW Midwest brownfield, a Wisconsin site with 150 MW built and 80 MW available now, a North Carolina campus with a path past 100 MW and larger campuses with 100 MW first phases. Documents and locations are shared on a call.
How does Invariant help find a 100 MW data center site?
Invariant keeps a live inventory of US powered sites, screens each one against utility documents, and matches buyers to sites by MW, state and energization date. Book a call or call (628) 220-8972 with your 100 MW requirement and we send matching sites, including off-market ones.
Sources and references.
Site specifications are as marketed by the seller and are checked against utility documents before any introduction. Public sources checked on . The location, equipment, and operating plan determine which requirements apply to a project.
- ComEd via PJMComEd guidelines on land requirements for interconnection substations ↗
- ERCOTBatch Zero update, September 2026 ↗
- eeNews EuropeNvidia offers 120 kW liquid-cooled Blackwell rack as industry standard ↗
- PacesGrid planning for data centers and transmission investment ↗
- PJM Inside LinesPJM's updated 20-year forecast continues to see significant long-term load growth ↗