Investing.com -- William Blair reduced its data center and power index score to 75 in May 2026 from 78, citing increased challenges with local opposition to data center projects and power supply constraints.

The firm raised its forecast for the U.S. data center power supply and demand deficit in 2030 to 28 gigawatts from 21 gigawatts. The total U.S. power supply and demand deficit stood at 127 gigawatts.

The data center demand score fell to 83 from 91. Total active data center capacity in the U.S. reached 46 gigawatts from 45 gigawatts, while planned capacity rose to 205 gigawatts from 198 gigawatts.

Active artificial intelligence data center capacity in the U.S. increased to 4.48 gigawatts from 4.46 gigawatts. Planned AI data center capacity grew to 109 gigawatts from 104 gigawatts.

The power supply score remained unchanged at 89. Global turbine orders in 2025 totaled 136 gigawatts, up 87% from 73 gigawatts in 2024. U.S. turbine orders reached 55 gigawatts in 2025, up 198% from 19 gigawatts in 2024.

The sentiment score dropped to 48.9 from 51. A survey showed stronger support for nuclear fleet expansion but pointed to difficulties with local opposition to data center locations, delays in power availability, grid connection limits, and long lead times for power generation equipment.