Marketplace Tech High-tech data centers get a powerful assist from a century-old company
5 snips
Feb 16, 2026 Dan Ackerman, Marketplace technology reporter, explains how Caterpillar generators are being pressed into service powering AI data centers. He covers why companies bypass the grid, how generators shift from backup to primary power, and the rush that has maxed out Caterpillar’s production. Rapid deployment and long backlogs shape the unfolding infrastructure story.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Data Centers Bypass Grid Delays
- Data centers face long grid interconnection delays that can take years.
- Developers are opting to generate electricity onsite to avoid the queue and speed deployment.
Generators Shift From Backup To Primary
- Caterpillar supplies natural-gas electric generators that convert fuel into electricity onsite.
- These generators were traditionally backup power but are now used as primary power for data centers.
Speed Drives Fuel Choice
- Speed to deploy power is the main reason data center builders favor natural gas.
- Time-to-market pressure makes fast-starting gas generators more attractive than slower renewables.