Data Center View - June 24, 2025 - Northern Data launches 20MW Pittsburgh data center

Good morning. This is Data Center View, and we keep it simple.

→ We are here to serve the owners, brokers, and users who are interested in data center real estate. Do us a favor, and forward this email to your favorite data center pro. They can sign up here.

Now, let’s get to it.

NEWS ROUNDUP

DEVELOPMENT: Northern Data launches 20MW Pittsburgh AI data center. Northern Data has officially launched a new AI and HPC data center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, marking a key expansion of its North American infrastructure footprint. The facility was acquired in early 2024 for $7.12 million and spans 41,000 sq ft on 7.5 acres. Originally built in the 1980s and refurbished in 2008, the site is now being transformed into a 20MW AI compute hub, operated by Ardent Data Centers, Northern Data’s wholly-owned high-performance computing (HPC) subsidiary. “Today’s announcement marks a significant step in Northern Data’s goal of becoming a leading global AI infrastructure provider,” said John Hoffman, COO of Northern Data. “Our modular design strategy and cutting-edge cooling technology position us for significant growth.”

DEVELOPMENT: Oppidan breaks ground on Minnesota data center. Oppidan has broken ground on a 61,000 sq ft build-to-suit data center in Eagan, Minnesota, with completion expected in 2026. The site, located on Argenta Trail, was previously undeveloped land owned by the neighboring YMCA. President and general counsel Dave Scott called the project a “demonstration of our financial strength” and a long-term investment in Eagan. The project is being developed in partnership with a tenant and supported by the City of Eagan, Dakota County, Minnesota DEED, Greater MSP, Dakota Electric Association, and Great River Energy. Gardner Builders is serving as general contractor, with ERA Associates, Stantec, Salas O’Brien, and States Manufacturing also involved.

DEVELOPMENT: US Signal invests $200 million in data center and fiber expansion. US Signal is expanding its Detroit Metro and Des Moines data centers, adding 3MW and 6MW of commercial power respectively, to support hyperscale and AI workloads. The company also plans to deploy over 1,000 miles of new fiber and conduit and develop micro-Edge data centers nationwide. CEO Daniel Watts said the company is “building the digital foundation for the next decade of AI, cloud, and Edge computing.” The $200 million program is backed by US Signal’s owner, Igneo Infrastructure Partners. Michael Ryder, chairman of the Board at US Signal and co-head of North America at Igneo, called US Signal a “cornerstone digital infrastructure platform” and emphasized the importance of scalable, low-latency infrastructure.

ENERGY: AT&T activates 130MW solar PPA with Enbridge. AT&T has officially begun sourcing power from a 130MW solar project in Jim Wells County, Texas, through a long-term virtual Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Enbridge. The deal covers the full output of the Orange Grove Solar project, which went live on June 4 and features 300,000 solar panels across 920 acres. AT&T will use the environmental attributes from the project to reduce its carbon footprint and help meet its 2035 Scope 1 and 2 carbon neutrality targets. Matthew Akman, EVP at Enbridge, said the company is “pleased to deliver additional zero-emission electricity into the grid.”

ENERGY: PowerSecure expands deal with Edged to power data centers. PowerSecure has deepened its partnership with Edged to provide power distribution solutions across Edged's growing U.S. footprint. The updated six-year agreement includes 152MW of critical load deployed across sites in Atlanta, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Des Moines, Kansas City, and Phoenix. PowerSecure, led by president Jim Smith, is supplying its scalable PowerBlock microgrid system, capable of delivering 24 hours of backup power and operating on both traditional and renewable diesel. Edged COO Mitch Fonseca praised PowerSecure’s role in delivering “ultraclean, reliable power” as the company scales its sustainable data center platform. Founded in 2021, Edged operates and develops facilities across the U.S. and Europe.

READ: The year of the data center.

DATA CENTER PROPERTY FOR SALE 

Click on each photo for more information.

2 Sites | 74 Acres & 133 Acres | Two 345 kV Lines & Two 138 kV Lines Running Close By | Local and State Tax Incentives

2 Sites | Site 1: 28 Acres, Designed to Support 496MW Natural Gas Solution | Site 2: 590 Acres, 100 Acres Can Be Developed As Data Center | Site 3: 70 Acres, Designed to Support 1GW Natural Gas Solutions

ONE MORE THING

→Try our resources for data center pros:

Search Properties | Data Center Real Estate News | Comps | Professional Network | Advertise Listings | Share a Closing Announcement