Data Center Boom

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

March 30, 2026

Did you know that nationwide data center construction has now surpassed new office building construction? For many contractors who are “regulars” in the commercial building space, they will attest to the slowdown of commercial building projects and the rapid rise of data center construction. Jasmine Yu, chief investment officer at Bryn Mawr Trust Advisors, was our keynote speaker at our Spring Manufacturing & Policy Conference last week. She shared the slide posted below with attendees, and just about everyone, apart from those in attendance from the building trades and commercial construction world, was taken aback.

Data centers are the subject of debate for some, but their importance to our economy and our future is quite clear. Yes, we need more energy generation, and that is a challenge the energy industry has flagged for decades. The issue of capacity needs our attention, but stopping progress on both fronts is not a winning strategy. Policymakers would be wise to look carefully at the resources needed to build greater capacity and move those plans ahead on an accelerated basis.

News You Can Use

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks this morning, as does New York Fed President John Williams. Both will undoubtedly get questions about the Middle East, inflation, oil, and shortages of refined products including fertilizers. February job openings and March consumer confidence data are released on Tuesday. February retail sales are out on Wednesday, along with the ADP report on jobs for March and ISM manufacturing data for March. U.S. trade deficit figures for February are out on Thursday, while Friday brings us March U.S. unemployment results.

With the end of the first quarter upon us, earnings calls will be light for another week or two until companies can assemble and review Q1 details. In spite of that, Fermi America and Phreesia both host calls today, followed by TD Synnex, Nike, and Dave & Buster’s on Tuesday. Conagra, Lamb Weston, and Penguin Solutions are among the short list of calls on Wednesday, followed by Acuity and Lindsay on Thursday. There are no noteworthy calls scheduled for Friday.

Michael J. Quaranta

President

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce

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