Satellite imagery analyzed by Aterio points to renewed construction activity at three Microsoft data-center campuses in Catawba County, North Carolina, after roughly seven months of limited activity. The signs differ by site: slab work at Lyle Creek, grading and substation work at Boyd Farm, and substation progress at Stover North. Microsoft separately confirmed in September 2026 that construction was advancing at Lyle Creek. The evidence indicates activity—not a uniform restart or proof that any campus is operating.
What the satellite imagery shows
Aterio compared satellite imagery from different dates and interpreted it as showing renewed activity at all three campuses. These are observations and interpretations attributed to Aterio; the imagery report does not establish that every site resumed at the same pace.
| Campus | Reported change | Company update |
|---|---|---|
| Lyle Creek, near Conover | Aterio reports renewed slab work in imagery comparing February 10, 2026, with November 11, 2025. | Microsoft’s September 2026 update confirms active construction on the first building and work beginning in additional areas. |
| Boyd Farm, near Maiden | Aterio reports grading and new substation work in the southern part of the site, comparing imagery from February 10, 2026, with November 11, 2025. | No company update for this site is cited in the reviewed material. |
| Stover North, near Newton/Hickory | Aterio reports substantial substation progress between July 13, 2025, and January 20, 2026, while visible activity on concrete building pads appeared more limited. | Microsoft’s May 2026 Hickory update said utility and foundation work was underway, with steel installation expected at the end of June. It is not a September status report. |
These campuses are all in Catawba County; the reported activity does not establish a statewide construction restart. Aterio CEO Sergio Toro described the signals as: “The pattern is hard to ignore, three dormant campuses, all moving at once. That’s the kind of early signal we look for in every project,” as quoted by BetaNews. This is a vendor’s characterization of satellite signals, not a statement from Microsoft.
What Microsoft has confirmed
Lyle Creek
Microsoft’s September 2026 update provides direct company confirmation of extensive current construction at Lyle Creek: the exterior of the first building was nearing completion; framing and drywall were underway; mechanical and electrical work had begun; and work was starting in additional building areas. That confirms construction progress at this campus, but does not show that the other two sites are at the same stage or that any site is operating.
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Stover North
Microsoft’s May 2026 update for the Hickory/Stover site reported utility and foundation work and said steel installation was expected at the end of June. Because that update predates September, it should not be treated as confirmation of Stover’s later status.
How large is the planned development?
Aterio says its reading of Army Corps public notices points to five planned buildings at each of the three campuses, with 48 MW of critical IT load per building. That yields a reported total of 15 buildings and 720 MW of critical IT load. The underlying notices were not independently retrieved for this account, so the building count and per-building figure remain attributed to Aterio’s interpretation.
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| Figure | What it means | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| 15 buildings | Five planned buildings at each of three campuses. | Aterio’s 2026 reading of Army Corps public notices. |
| 720 MW | Reported total critical IT load, calculated as 15 buildings at 48 MW each. | Aterio’s filing-based calculation, not measured delivered capacity. |
| About 810 MW | Estimated generator-backed nameplate capacity. | Aterio estimate based on a comparable Microsoft building design and assumed generator configuration; it is not confirmed installed capacity. |
When could the campuses become operational?
Aterio’s forecast puts Q3 2027 as the earliest possible first activation, with late Q4 2027 to Q1 2028 described as more realistic. These are forecasts, not a Microsoft commitment or a confirmed opening date. Aterio also describes at least $1 billion phased over ten years, with development potentially continuing through about 2032; that is its account of local arrangements, not an independently verified current investment schedule.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did Microsoft pause its North Carolina data centers?
Aterio describes roughly seven months of little activity before the renewed satellite signals. The available information does not establish a verified, site-specific reason for the slowdown, nor does it prove that every phase stopped completely. “Pause” is therefore a shorthand for Aterio’s account of limited activity, not a fully documented Microsoft explanation.
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How to read the restart evidence
- Look at the type of work: Slabs, grading, substations, foundations, and building construction are different signs of progress; they should not be treated as interchangeable.
- Check for company corroboration: Microsoft’s September update corroborates active building work at Lyle Creek. The cited Stover update is from May, and no Boyd Farm company update is cited here.
- Keep capacity and operation separate: Planned or inferred megawatts are not proof of installed equipment, delivered power, or an operating data center.
- Keep forecasts in perspective: Aterio’s activation window is a projection, not a fixed date announced by Microsoft.
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