Data Center Electrical Infrastructure: Supporting Collin County’s Growing Cloud Computing and Tech Industry Demands

Data Centers Demand Electrical Excellence: How Collin County’s Tech Boom is Revolutionizing Infrastructure Requirements

The digital revolution is reshaping Collin County, Texas, and with it comes an unprecedented demand for robust electrical infrastructure to power the data centers that fuel our cloud-connected world. A new study for the Texas Association of Business says Collin County, Texas, will be a driver of growth in technology over the next several decades. This technological transformation is creating unique challenges and opportunities for electrical contractors who must adapt to support the massive power requirements of modern data centers.

The Scale of Collin County’s Tech Growth

A new economic forecast predicts that Collin County, a rapidly growing suburban expanse north of Dallas, will become a national economic powerhouse by 2050, with an output projected to surpass the entire current-day economies of several U.S. states. This growth is being driven by substantial investments in data center infrastructure. In Plano, Aligned Data Centers is constructing a $700 million, 425,000-square-foot data center for Lambda Inc., a cloud computing firm backed by AI chip leader Nvidia.

The numbers are staggering. Blackstone’s data center company, QTS, is investing $780 million in two new data center projects in the region and expanding another. These investments represent just the beginning of what experts predict will be a transformative period for the region’s electrical infrastructure needs.

Understanding Data Center Electrical Infrastructure Demands

Data centers are facilities for storing and processing data safely and securely. It includes physical servers and other network hardware. This physical infrastructure also comprises external and backup power systems that ensure the smooth running of data centers in case of any power failure. The electrical requirements for these facilities are unlike traditional commercial buildings.

One report estimated that the computing capacity (measured by the power demand) of data centers under construction in North America in the first half of 2024 reached a record-high 3,872 MW, up by 69% from a year earlier. To put this in perspective, a single data center can consume the equivalent electricity of 50,000 homes.

The electrical infrastructure must provide several critical functions:

The Growing Workforce Demand for Skilled Electricians

“You talk to employers throughout Texas, and it’s not really just North Texas, and they will say, because of the explosion of data centers and artificial intelligence activity in Texas that yes, to build these data centers, we need a lot of electricians, machinists,” Hamer added. This surge in demand is creating significant opportunities for qualified electrical contractors in the region.

A typical large data center (around 250,000 square feet, for example) can add up to 1,500 workers on-site during the construction phase, requiring a crew of site developers, equipment operators, construction workers, electricians, and technicians, many earning wages upward of $100,000 per year (not including overtime).

Power Infrastructure Challenges

The rapid expansion of data centers is putting unprecedented strain on electrical infrastructure. One of the main issues is the soaring power demand that threatens to outpace grid capacity and infrastructure. The electricity demand from data centers worldwide is set to more than double by 2030, to around 945Twh.

Power availability has become the dominant factor in data center site selection, surpassing traditional considerations such as proximity to metropolitan areas, as developers seek reliable electricity for increasingly large AI workloads. With grid capacity tight in many established markets, operators are seeking non-traditional locations with abundant power or alternatives, such as onsite generation, to meet demand.

The Role of Commercial Electrical Contractors

For businesses and organizations in Collin County looking to support this growing tech infrastructure, partnering with experienced electrical contractors is essential. The complexity of data center electrical systems requires specialized knowledge and capabilities that go far beyond traditional commercial electrical work.

A qualified commercial electrician Collin County, TX must understand the unique requirements of data center infrastructure, including power distribution systems, emergency backup protocols, and the precise electrical demands of modern server equipment. These projects require contractors who can handle high-voltage installations, complex control systems, and the stringent safety requirements that come with mission-critical infrastructure.

Future-Proofing Electrical Infrastructure

Traditional data centers are failing to efficiently power AI workloads and falling short of sustainability targets and compliance demands, according to the “Data Center of the Future” November study carried out by Lenovo in partnership with Opinium. This challenge is driving innovation in electrical infrastructure design and implementation.

Modern data centers are incorporating advanced technologies such as:

Economic Impact and Opportunities

Texas, led by regions like North Texas and Collin County, is positioning itself as a critical player in the national innovation landscape — with growth that could redefine the state’s economic standing for generations. This growth presents significant opportunities for local electrical contractors and the broader construction industry.

For every job inside a data center, however, an extra estimated 3.5 jobs are created in the surrounding economy (such as through upgrades to supporting infrastructure). This multiplier effect extends to electrical contractors, equipment suppliers, and related service providers throughout the region.

Preparing for the Future

As Collin County continues to attract major technology investments, the demand for sophisticated electrical infrastructure will only grow. “The asymmetric importance of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) as levers for productivity in the Texas economy is likely to be even more pronounced in Collin County’s rapidly growing cities, including Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, and Prosper,” reads the study. “Their extraordinary population gains are fueling economic momentum that will shape the region’s future in the decades ahead.”

The transformation of Collin County into a major technology hub represents both a challenge and an opportunity for the electrical contracting industry. Success in this market requires not just technical expertise, but also an understanding of the unique requirements that come with supporting the digital infrastructure that powers our modern economy. As data centers continue to proliferate throughout the region, the electrical contractors who can meet these complex demands will find themselves at the center of one of the most significant economic transformations in Texas history.

The future of Collin County’s tech industry depends on reliable, scalable electrical infrastructure. For businesses and developers looking to participate in this growth, partnering with experienced electrical contractors who understand these specialized requirements isn’t just advisable—it’s essential for success in the digital economy.