Power Companies Invoke Eminent Domain to Acquire Land for Data Centers

Power companies in the United States are reportedly using eminent domain powers to seize private land for data center development. Eminent domain, traditionally reserved for public infrastructure projects, is being applied in a context that raises questions about what constitutes public use. The trend reflects surging demand for data center capacity driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing growth. Critics are likely to challenge whether private data center projects qualify as a legitimate public purpose under eminent domain law. The issue highlights growing tension between rapid digital infrastructure expansion and private property rights.