Sabey Data Centers, one of the largest privately held data center developers, is expanding its footprint while maintaining its drive toward sustainability, a rare pairing in a sector known for massive energy demand. In its newly released Sustainability Report, the company claimed a 25.2% cut in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions compared with a 2018 baseline, even as its total electrical load continued to grow.

The report highlights a larger trend in data center development: the industry has awoken to the need to be aware of sustainability issues, even if that progress is fitful at times. In the case of Sabey, its report highlights the company’s progress toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2029. Among its initiatives: continued investments in carbon-free energy, more efficient building operations, and partnerships to help tenants reduce their own energy use.

Nine of Sabey’s buildings received the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR certifications, with scores above 90, including five earning an exceptional 99 out of 100.

“Data centers are the backbone of the digital economy and AI revolution but must become stewards of global decarbonization,” said Casey Mason, Sr. Energy & Sustainability Manager at Sabey. “We are not just on track for net-zero by 2029, we’re reimagining how critical digital infrastructure can be both scalable and sustainable.”

Facing Insatiable Demand

Sabey’s expansion push mirrors an industry experiencing record-low vacancy rates and voracious demand for data infrastructure, fueled by artificial intelligence’s growth. The company currently operates or develops more than four million square feet of data center space across the U.S. and is increasing power availability at six major campuses.

Eight megawatts of capacity are immediately available across its Columbia and Seattle facilities, with another 70 megawatts scheduled to come online between now and 2027. The largest future buildout will be at Sabey’s Umatilla, Oregon site, which is slated to deliver 120 megawatts of capacity, the first phase arriving by 2027.

The company’s U.S. portfolio includes campuses in New York, Texas, Virginia, and Washington state. Many are designed to accommodate hyperscale clients while maintaining an emphasis on renewable energy sourcing and low total cost of ownership.

Also supporting Sabey’s strategy is a memorandum of understanding with TerraPower, the nuclear power development company founded by Bill Gates. The collaboration explores the integration of next-generation nuclear energy into data center operations, a potential advance in clean, steady baseload power for hyperscale facilities.

Local Concerns Remain an Issue

Sabey’s rapid expansion hasn’t been without controversy. In Montana, where the company has entered a land purchase agreement for a 600-acre site near Butte, residents are voicing environmental and economic concerns.

At a recent public meeting, locals questioned the project’s heavy electricity and water requirements. Others worried about potential overreliance on an industry that could cool as quickly as it has grown.

But city officials, including Butte Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher, emphasized the potential benefits. Gallagher cited economic gains seen in Quincy, Washington, another Sabey hub, as evidence that data centers can bring stable, long-term jobs and tax revenue.

Sabey has not yet issued formal statements about the Montana project but maintains that sustainability remain central to its operations.

Apart of the Montana site, Sabey’s challenge will be maintaining its balance of growth and sustainability as energy requirements climb. If Sabey meets its 2029 net-zero target while continuing its nationwide buildout, it may help redefine what green means in a business that powers the AI era.