Energy and infrastructure intelligence firm Sightline Climate has introduced a new weekly newsletter aimed at helping industry leaders navigate the rapidly evolving power sector.
The newsletter, called Powerstack, is designed for utilities, energy companies, investors and developers involved in the growing demand for electricity infrastructure, particularly as digital industries and artificial intelligence drive unprecedented increases in power consumption.
According to the company, the first edition includes analysis from its latest Data Center Outlook, revealing that a large portion of planned global data center capacity scheduled for 2026 may face delays.
Data Center Pipeline Faces Significant Delays
Sightline Climate’s analysis suggests that 30% to 50% of global data center capacity planned for 2026 may not be completed on schedule.
The report tracked approximately 190 gigawatts of announced capacity across 777 hyperscale data centers, each exceeding 50 megawatts, announced worldwide since 2024.
Out of that total pipeline:
- About 16 GW of capacity is expected to come online in 2026
- Only 5 GW is currently under active construction
- Roughly 11 GW remains in early announcement stages without significant construction milestones
Given that hyperscale facilities typically require 12 to 18 months to build, the gap between announcements and active construction suggests many projects will likely slip beyond their planned completion timelines.
Rising Power Demand Driving Infrastructure Expansion
The rapid growth of data centers is closely linked to the expansion of cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital services, which are dramatically increasing electricity demand.
Many energy providers and utilities are now racing to expand generation capacity and grid infrastructure to support this surge in load growth.
However, construction challenges, permitting delays and grid interconnection timelines continue to slow progress on many large projects.
The report also highlighted similar trends in the previous year, when 26% of expected data center capacity in 2025 experienced delays, while an additional 10% of projects postponed their commercial operation dates.
New Powerstack Newsletter Tracks Energy Market Signals
The newly launched Powerstack newsletter aims to provide deeper insights into the forces shaping power markets during what analysts describe as the “load growth era.”
Each weekly edition will analyze policy decisions, regulatory rulings, capital flows and major infrastructure developments affecting the energy sector.
“The urgency around speed to power is nothing like anything I’ve seen in my 20 years in this space,” said Mark Taylor, Co-Founder and CPO of Sightline Climate. “We started Powerstack to separate what’s working and what’s not, and call out when a one-off is becoming a trend.”
The newsletter will also highlight developments such as:
- Regulatory decisions and rulings from agencies like Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- Capacity auctions and procurement announcements
- Major infrastructure investments and project milestones
- Policy changes affecting utilities and power markets
By combining data analytics with expert commentary, the publication aims to help decision-makers understand how evolving energy policies and infrastructure investments could affect their operations.
AI-Driven Intelligence Behind the Newsletter
Powerstack is powered by the company’s AI-driven decision intelligence platform, which tracks more than 10,000 signals across the global power ecosystem.
Unlike traditional newsletters that compile headlines from multiple sources, Sightline Climate says Powerstack is built using proprietary datasets and analytical frameworks that monitor market activity in real time.
“Our first newsletter, CTVC, took off because it was the source of truth for the rapidly changing climate tech theme,” Taylor said. “It gives readers a focused look at the key developments of the week, and a hard look at the most important thing–all in a way that’s super-accessible. We aim to do the same for power via Powerstack.”
The publication will also serve as a public-facing summary of the deeper analytics available through Sightline Climate’s intelligence platform.
Supporting Strategic Decisions in the Power Sector
As utilities and investors prepare for a massive expansion of electricity infrastructure, access to accurate data and analysis is becoming increasingly important.
Many companies involved in grid development, renewable energy and power generation are facing complex decisions about where and when to invest.
Powerstack aims to support those decisions by delivering concise insights into market signals that could influence infrastructure investment and energy policy.
Sightline Climate’s clients include major energy and infrastructure players such as EDF, NextEra Energy, Southern Company and Edison International.
With trillions of dollars expected to be invested in global energy systems over the coming decade, the company believes data-driven intelligence will play a key role in guiding the next wave of power infrastructure development.
Originally reported by Slightline Climate in Construction Dive.
