Fermi America and the Texas Tech University System (TTU System) unveiled plans for the world’s largest private energy and intelligence development campus, spanning 5,800 acres in the Texas Panhandle. The new Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus will deliver up to 11 gigawatts of IT capacity—powered by a diversified mix of natural gas, wind, solar, and clean nuclear energy—and house up to 18 million square feet of data center infrastructure tailored for AI workloads.
The partnership aims to address the surging energy demands of generative AI and high-performance computing, while also contributing to the region’s economic development and educational mission. The site will feature a HyperGrid™ architecture, combining a first-of-its-kind behind-the-meter power ecosystem with direct integration into hyperscale data center operations. Fermi America’s energy blueprint includes what is expected to become the largest combined-cycle natural gas project and nuclear energy complex in the U.S., along with on-site battery storage, reinforcing the campus’s energy independence and reliability.
Beyond infrastructure, the initiative will include an academic and research facility with offices, classrooms, and conference spaces. Texas Tech will integrate workforce development, internships, and joint research initiatives into the project. “This collaboration will not only position Texas Tech to address the evolving demands of the energy and technology sectors but will also create meaningful educational opportunities,” said TTU President Lawrence Schovanec.
- 5,800-acre site in the Texas Panhandle
- Up to 11 GW of on-site energy from gas, solar, wind, and nuclear
- 18 million square feet of data centers optimized for AI workloads
- On-site academic and research facility tied to Texas Tech System
- Powered by Fermi America’s HyperGrid™ architecture and private microgrid
“We’re behind, and it’s all hands on deck,” said Fermi America co-founder and former U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry. “No one does energy better than Texas, and Fermi America and the Texas Tech University System are answering the call.”
Fermi America was co-founded by former U.S. Energy Secretary and Texas Governor Rick Perry, whose political and policy background underscores the company’s mission to restore American energy leadership in the age of AI and digital infrastructure. The company brings together a multidisciplinary team of industry veterans with expertise in nuclear power, natural gas generation, grid-scale battery storage, and hyperscale data center operations. By designing vertically integrated energy solutions under its proprietary HyperGrid™ model, Fermi America aims to address the dual challenge of energy availability and compute scalability. The leadership team is focused on deploying resilient, behind-the-meter infrastructure that aligns with U.S. energy security priorities while enabling AI innovation at industrial scale.
Texas is rapidly emerging as a focal point for the next wave of nuclear energy development in the United States, driven by both public and private sector initiatives. State leaders have signaled growing support for advanced nuclear technologies as a complement to the state’s already robust wind, solar, and natural gas portfolio. Recent legislative efforts have streamlined permitting for small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced reactor designs, while research institutions like Texas A&M University and the University of Texas are expanding nuclear engineering programs and reactor testbeds. Additionally, utility providers and private developers are actively exploring nuclear-powered microgrids for industrial sites and data center campuses, seeing nuclear as a stable, dispatchable energy source vital for 24/7 AI workloads. These developments align with federal priorities to revitalize domestic nuclear capacity, positioning Texas as a national leader in next-generation clean energy deployment.
