DFW a data center powerhouse

​​​DALLAS – The Dallas-Fort Worth data center market is the second largest in the world with 208 megawatts​ (MW), according to a recent CBRE report.

​The Metroplex ranks behind Northern Virginia, which has 557 MW. Chicago (192 MW), Silicon Valley (155 MW), and New Jersey/New York (155 MW) also ranked a​mong the largest data center markets.

One of the reasons North Texas is so attractive for data centers is its relatively low energy costs, which have been declining over the last four years, says a 2016 JLL report.​ The average power rate in DFW is $.054 per kilowatt hour, barely higher than the price in Northern Virginia ($.052/kWh).