ENERGYWIRE | A company co-founded by former Energy Secretary Rick Perry plans to build one of the world’s largest data center complexes, which would be powered by nuclear, natural gas, solar, and batteries.
Fermi America announced on Thursday its plans for a “HyperGrid” campus in Amarillo, Texas. The complex would contain the nation’s largest nuclear and natural gas projects, aiming to deliver 1 gigawatt of power by the end of next year. Work has already begun at the site, which is expected to span 5,769 acres, the company said.
“The Chinese are building 22 nuclear reactors today to power the future of AI,” Perry said in a statement. “America has none. We’re behind, and it’s all hands on deck.”
The company did not immediately reveal the total cost or its source of financing but said it is partnering with Texas Tech University on the project.
Eventually the complex will be able to deliver 11 GW of power and 18 million square feet of AI capacity, it said. One GW is roughly equivalent to the amount of power used in all of San Francisco.
In an emailed response to questions about financing, the company said Chief Financial Officer Miles Everson would oversee “our detailed projected budget for each vertical in real time.”
Fermi plans to harness proximity to some of the nation’s largest gas fields, as well as Pantex, a facility operated by the Department of Energy assembling nuclear weapons.
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) said in a statement that the project “signals the start of a new chapter of high-impact investment in the Texas Panhandle.” Texas Tech said the complex also would provide training and research opportunities.