The case
- Power infrastructure described in current coverage as strong, which in a market where power is the binding constraint is the whole argument.
- Deal economics reported as favourable compared with nearby markets — meaning Virginia above and Atlanta below.
- Fiber connectivity described as robust, sitting on the Atlantic corridor between two major network hubs.
- Geography. Positioned between Virginia and Atlanta, serving the eastern seaboard without competing for Virginia's exhausted capacity.
- Precedent. Amazon has a build-out underway in North Carolina.
What makes the Carolinas different from the Texas story
Texas is a frontier argument — cheap land, own grid, build big in places nobody expected. The Carolinas are a competence argument. The grid works, the fiber is there, the permitting is navigable, and the numbers are better than the alternatives.
For a landowner, that means a market with real demand but less of the speculative frenzy. Counterparties are likely to be methodical rather than racing.
What to check
- Transmission and substation access. The standard first filter. How to read your lines →
- Serving utility. The Carolinas have a concentrated utility structure, which can simplify the interconnection conversation relative to fragmented territories.
- County posture. Varies considerably. Some Carolina counties have actively recruited data centers; others have not engaged with the question.
- Topography and contiguity. Piedmont terrain is workable but rolling. Large flat contiguous parcels are the scarce item.
- Water. Generally less constrained than the arid West, with the usual caveats about local allocation and drought cycles.
Realistic expectations
The Carolinas are on every list, so the market is known. Pricing should sit meaningfully below Virginia and somewhat below the Atlanta corridor, with the usual enormous dispersion based on power readiness rather than geography.
Landowners with 100+ contiguous acres near transmission, in a county that has not closed the door, are in a solid position. Not a Virginia position — a solid one.
Market characteristics as publicly reported through 2026.