Saad Ullah
● Shanu Mathew recently shared an update on Stargate—a massive buildout of AI data centers spanning Texas, New Mexico, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The network now has seven confirmed projects totaling roughly 7–8+ gigawatts of capacity, making it one of North America's largest AI infrastructure projects.
● The rapid expansion faces real constraints. Each site needs hundreds of megawatts of power, creating serious grid interconnection and environmental hurdles that could delay deployment. The coalition—led by OpenAI (tenant) and Oracle (infrastructure), with partners like SoftBank, Crusoe, and Vantage Data Centers—is using hybrid energy models that combine grid power with on-site solar, wind, or gas microgrids, plus closed-loop cooling.
● The flagship is in Abilene, TX (1.2 GW), followed by Shackelford County, TX (1.4 GW), Doña Ana County, NM (>1 GW), and Lordstown, OH (manufacturing hub). Port Washington, WI, will host "Lighthouse" (~1 GW, due 2028). The newest addition is Saline Township, Michigan—a 250-acre, LEED-certified campus that's part of Oracle's 4.5-GW national cluster. It'll run on 100% DTE Energy power and create over 2,500 construction jobs and 450 permanent positions when it breaks ground in early 2026.
Saad Ullah
