{
  "summary": "This chapter is observing (no good/bad criterion): observation started 2026-08-30, 3 series, latest confirmed 2026-09-22. Latest final value: CONUS cooling degree days (population-weighted) 5 (2026-09-22). (Source: NOAA CPC; U.S. Census Bureau / updated 2026-09-24 18:01 JST)",
  "cite_as": "AI Lifeline, Data centers (United States edition), data confirmed 2026-09-22, https://ai-lifeline.org/us/datacenter/",
  "can_say": [
    "How much private money went into data-center construction each month (Census VIP, millions of USD, not seasonally adjusted).",
    "Whether the order backlog of U.S. electrical-equipment manufacturers (Census M3 unfilled orders; the industry includes transformer makers) is growing or shrinking month by month (a lead-time proxy).",
    "How much cooling the CONUS climate demanded each day (NOAA CPC population-weighted cooling degree days, base 65°F)."
  ],
  "generated": "2026-09-24 18:01",
  "region": "us",
  "frequency_note": "Mixed-frequency chapter: cooling degree days are daily; construction spending and unfilled orders are monthly (the publication cycle of the official statistics). Trend lines appear after 6 comparable observations of the same definition — about 6 months for the monthly series.",
  "series": {
    "cooling_degree_days": {
      "source": "NOAA Climate Prediction Center, Degree Days Statistics (population-weighted)",
      "license": "Public domain (U.S. federal government work). No key.",
      "url": "https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/monitoring_and_data/DD_monitoring_and_data.shtml",
      "name": "Daily cooling degree days, CONUS population-weighted (NOAA CPC definition, base 65F)",
      "definition_note": "CPC published values used as-is; we do not compute degree days ourselves.",
      "data_status": "live",
      "daily": [
        {
          "date": "2026-07-25",
          "conus_cdd": 10,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-07-26",
          "conus_cdd": 12,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-07-27",
          "conus_cdd": 13,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-07-28",
          "conus_cdd": 12,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-07-29",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-07-30",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-07-31",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-01",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-02",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-03",
          "conus_cdd": 12,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-04",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-05",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-06",
          "conus_cdd": 13,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-07",
          "conus_cdd": 14,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-08",
          "conus_cdd": 14,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-09",
          "conus_cdd": 13,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-10",
          "conus_cdd": 13,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-11",
          "conus_cdd": 13,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-12",
          "conus_cdd": 12,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-13",
          "conus_cdd": 12,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-14",
          "conus_cdd": 12,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-15",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-16",
          "conus_cdd": 12,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-17",
          "conus_cdd": 12,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-18",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-19",
          "conus_cdd": 14,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-20",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-21",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-22",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-23",
          "conus_cdd": 10,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-24",
          "conus_cdd": 9,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-25",
          "conus_cdd": 8,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-26",
          "conus_cdd": 12,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-27",
          "conus_cdd": 10,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-28",
          "conus_cdd": 10,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-29",
          "conus_cdd": 9,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-30",
          "conus_cdd": 10,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-08-31",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-01",
          "conus_cdd": 12,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-02",
          "conus_cdd": 12,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-03",
          "conus_cdd": 12,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-04",
          "conus_cdd": 12,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-05",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-06",
          "conus_cdd": 9,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-07",
          "conus_cdd": 8,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-08",
          "conus_cdd": 9,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-09",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-10",
          "conus_cdd": 11,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-11",
          "conus_cdd": 10,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-12",
          "conus_cdd": 8,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-13",
          "conus_cdd": 10,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-14",
          "conus_cdd": 8,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-15",
          "conus_cdd": 7,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-16",
          "conus_cdd": 7,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-17",
          "conus_cdd": 8,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-18",
          "conus_cdd": 9,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-19",
          "conus_cdd": 7,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-20",
          "conus_cdd": 7,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-21",
          "conus_cdd": 6,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "date": "2026-09-22",
          "conus_cdd": 5,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        }
      ]
    },
    "transformer_backlog_proxy": {
      "source": "U.S. Census Bureau, Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3) Survey",
      "license": "Public domain (U.S. federal government work). API key required (free).",
      "url": "https://www.census.gov/economic-indicators/",
      "name": "Unfilled orders, Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (M3, monthly, millions of USD, seasonally adjusted) — a lead-time proxy, not a lead time",
      "monthly": [
        {
          "period": "2024-01",
          "value": 27125.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2024-02",
          "value": 26953.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2024-03",
          "value": 26989.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2024-04",
          "value": 26860.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2024-05",
          "value": 26797.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2024-06",
          "value": 26812.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2024-07",
          "value": 26648.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2024-08",
          "value": 26708.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2024-09",
          "value": 26632.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2024-10",
          "value": 26786.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2024-11",
          "value": 26763.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2024-12",
          "value": 26785.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2025-01",
          "value": 26802.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2025-02",
          "value": 26878.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2025-03",
          "value": 26921.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2025-04",
          "value": 26880.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2025-05",
          "value": 26865.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2025-06",
          "value": 26816.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2025-07",
          "value": 26724.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2025-08",
          "value": 26596.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2025-09",
          "value": 26816.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2025-10",
          "value": 26952.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2025-11",
          "value": 27251.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2025-12",
          "value": 27678.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2026-01",
          "value": 27947.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2026-02",
          "value": 27791.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2026-03",
          "value": 27918.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2026-04",
          "value": 28048.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2026-05",
          "value": 28090.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-08-29 23:19"
        },
        {
          "period": "2026-06",
          "value": 28285.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-03 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2026-07",
          "value": 28351.0,
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-03 18:00"
        }
      ],
      "data_status": "live",
      "proxy_note": "No public monthly statistic of transformer lead times exists (checked 2026-08-29); order backlog is the closest public proxy."
    },
    "construction_spend": {
      "source": "U.S. Census Bureau, Value of Construction Put in Place Survey (VIP)",
      "license": "Public domain (U.S. federal government work). No key (direct public file).",
      "url": "https://www.census.gov/constructionspending",
      "name": "Private data-center construction spending (monthly, millions of USD, not seasonally adjusted)",
      "monthly": [
        {
          "period": "2014-01",
          "value": 124.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2014-02",
          "value": 131.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2014-03",
          "value": 134.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2014-04",
          "value": 146.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2014-05",
          "value": 154.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2014-06",
          "value": 151.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2014-07",
          "value": 154.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2014-08",
          "value": 170.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2014-09",
          "value": 171.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2014-10",
          "value": 162.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2014-11",
          "value": 166.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2014-12",
          "value": 134.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2015-01",
          "value": 146.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2015-02",
          "value": 146.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2015-03",
          "value": 170.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2015-04",
          "value": 189.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2015-05",
          "value": 283.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2015-06",
          "value": 341.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2015-07",
          "value": 231.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2015-08",
          "value": 246.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2015-09",
          "value": 249.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2015-10",
          "value": 243.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2015-11",
          "value": 252.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2015-12",
          "value": 249.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2016-01",
          "value": 241.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2016-02",
          "value": 288.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2016-03",
          "value": 328.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2016-04",
          "value": 363.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2016-05",
          "value": 352.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2016-06",
          "value": 395.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2016-07",
          "value": 367.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2016-08",
          "value": 397.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2016-09",
          "value": 373.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2016-10",
          "value": 325.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2016-11",
          "value": 335.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2016-12",
          "value": 357.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2017-01",
          "value": 303.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2017-02",
          "value": 322.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2017-03",
          "value": 316.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2017-04",
          "value": 354.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2017-05",
          "value": 441.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
        {
          "period": "2017-06",
          "value": 410.0,
          "value_status": "final",
          "fetched_at": "2026-09-24 18:00"
        },
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      "us_only": true,
      "data_status": "live"
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  },
  "status_note": "Observing only: no good/bad criterion is defined for this chapter. Facility-level data and company names are out of scope by design — regional aggregates only.",
  "status": "observing",
  "cannot_say": [
    "How many data centers exist, are under construction, or where (dollar totals only; no facility, site or company data by design).",
    "Transformer delivery times in weeks (the backlog is measured in dollars of orders, not in delivery time).",
    "Whether any level is good or bad, or how the U.S. compares with the EU on these series (different concepts and bases; only the Japan edition shares the 65°F degree-day base)."
  ],
  "answer_line": "This chapter is observing (no good/bad criterion): observation started 2026-08-30, 3 series, latest confirmed 2026-09-22. Latest final value: CONUS cooling degree days (population-weighted) 5 (2026-09-22). (Source: NOAA CPC; U.S. Census Bureau / updated 2026-09-24 18:01 JST)",
  "answer_line_date": "2026-09-22",
  "answer_kind": "observing",
  "headline_answer": {
    "series": "cooling_degree_days",
    "label": "CONUS cooling degree days (population-weighted)",
    "value": 5,
    "unit": "",
    "date": "2026-09-22",
    "threshold": null
  },
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What were the latest cooling degree days for the contiguous U.S.?",
      "a": "5 degree days (base 65°F, population-weighted) on 2026-09-22. Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center, Degree Days Statistics, used as-is."
    },
    {
      "q": "How much was spent on private data-center construction in the latest month?",
      "a": "6,551 million USD (not seasonally adjusted) in 2026-07, value_status provisional (U.S. Census Bureau, Value of Construction Put in Place, US-only series). Unfilled orders of electrical equipment manufacturing, a transformer lead-time proxy (seasonally adjusted): 28,351 million USD in 2026-07 (Census M3)."
    },
    {
      "q": "What is the source and how often is it updated?",
      "a": "CPC degree days daily; Census VIP and M3 monthly (Census p/r flags shown as provisional/revised). Regional aggregates only; no facilities or company names. Observation started 2026-08-30. Last updated 2026-09-24 18:01 JST. Machine-readable: https://ai-lifeline.org/us/api/datacenter_us.json"
    },
    {
      "q": "What can this data not tell you?",
      "a": "What this chapter cannot say (ledger v1.0, approved 2026-09-05; full text in the method section): How many data centers exist, are under construction, or where (dollar totals only; no facility, site or company data by design); Transformer delivery times in weeks (the backlog is measured in dollars of orders, not in delivery time); Whether any level is good or bad, or how the U.S. compares with the EU on these series (different concepts and bases; only the Japan edition shares the 65°F degree-day base)."
    }
  ],
  "citation": {
    "page": "https://ai-lifeline.org/us/datacenter/",
    "api": "https://ai-lifeline.org/us/api/datacenter_us.json",
    "last_confirmed": "2026-09-22",
    "next_expected": "2026-09-23",
    "generated": "2026-09-24 18:01",
    "observation_start": "2026-08-30",
    "series_count": 3,
    "series_not_yet_measured": 0,
    "title_short": "CONUS CDD 5 (final 9/22)",
    "generated_by": "scripts/citation/apply_citation_layer.py",
    "ledger_version": "v1.1-2026-09-06",
    "keys_written": [
      "summary",
      "cite_as",
      "answer_line",
      "answer_line_date",
      "answer_kind",
      "headline_answer",
      "faq",
      "citation"
    ]
  }
}