Among the strongest power availability of any tracked market — but verify time-to-power before committing capex
## Rural SPP climbs into the top-5 US markets on excess-power headroom
Rural SPP (Kansas) scored **67/100** on the DC Hub excess-power index as of July 4, ranking it in the top five build-ready markets nationwide and among the strongest on available grid capacity. Its constraint score sits at just 22.5 — well below the median — signaling low transmission congestion and ample interconnection runway.
## What it means for build decisions
For hyperscalers and developers evaluating second-tier markets, Rural SPP offers a rare combination: **strong excess headroom** and **low constraint risk**. That puts it near the top of the build shortlist on pure power availability — ahead of most PJM and ERCOT metros that face tighter queues and longer timelines.
But excess power is not the same as *fast* power. **Time-to-energization** in SPP varies widely by substation and local utility. A 67/100 score means the capacity is there; it does not guarantee six-month service. Verify substation readiness, study timelines, and local utility track records before committing land or capex.
## Second-order implication
Rural SPP's strength reflects a broader shift: **the best power opportunities are increasingly outside the top-10 metros**. As Northern Virginia, Phoenix, and Dallas tighten, Kansas, Wyoming (Cheyenne also scored 69.5), and parts of the rural SPP footprint are emerging as the new build zones for AI clusters that need MW at scale without multi-year waits.
Source: DC Hub Data Center Power Index (https://dchub.cloud/dcpi/rural-spp). Updated daily.
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