Texas just greenlit GW Ranch, an 8,000-acre gas-and-renewables-powered data center campus that Pacifico Energy calls the largest permitted in the U.S.
The site will have up to 7.65 GW of gas-fired generation plus solar and batteries on a private grid, explicitly targeting AI and “digital infrastructure” demand.
By sitting on its own behind-the-fence power system in the Permian, GW Ranch aims to dodge regional grid constraints and public rate pressure while soaking up local gas.
Pacifico is promising customers a scalable path to 5+ GW of data center load by 2027, which squarely targets hyperscale AI GPU clusters and long-term capacity deals.
Operationally, this is a bet that power availability and price stability beat proximity to major metros, and that regulators will tolerate very large gas-heavy AI campuses.
For AI infra planning, this project is a clear signal that vertically integrated power-plus-data-center models in energy-rich regions are moving from concept to concrete.
The article is worth reading for the specific power numbers, timing, and structure of what may become a template for future AI-focused campuses.
Source: Texas approves ‘largest permitted data center campus’ in the U.S.
