New Era Helium and Sharon AI have signed a Letter of Intent ( LOI ) for the acquisition of 200 acres in Ector County, Texas. The partnership aims to develop an artificial intelligence and high-performance computing ( AI/HPC ) data center with a capacity of 250 MW and operated under a net-zero energy scheme.
New Era Helium and Sharon AI project timelines
This development is led by the Texas Critical Data Centers ( TCDC ) joint venture, and seeks to leverage the region’s energy and fiber optic infrastructure. Ector County was chosen for its capacity to capture, utilize and store carbon ( CCUS ), which will enable the implementation of a sustainable energy model.
GROW Odessa Corporation will facilitate the process to establish this behind-the-meter data center. In addition, the existing CO₂ infrastructure, natural gas transmission lines, and fiber optic networks have been determining factors in the selection of the site.
The land acquisition is expected to close within the next 90 days, once due diligence is completed. At the same time, TCDC has begun designing the data center, natural gas power plant and fiber connectivity.
Additionally, the company expects to finalize a natural gas supply agreement with New Era Helium in the second quarter of 2025. This agreement will provide low-cost, price-stable energy, ensuring the economic viability of the data center.
The project joins a trend of investment in technological infrastructure in the US, in line with initiatives such as Project Stargate, driven by OpenAI , Softbank and Oracle . This new facility in Texas is expected to contribute to the high-performance computing ecosystem with a focus on energy efficiency and emissions reduction.
We are delighted to be working with Sharon AI and New Era Helium on this new project to develop a large-scale net-zero energy data center in Ector County, West Texas.
Russell Tippin, President of GROW Odessa.
Next steps for the project include selecting technology for power generation and CO₂ capture , appointing technology partners, and negotiating with potential customers, which could include hyperscalers and large energy users.
The company is working in parallel with select contractors to design and build the 250 MW data center campus. We are excited about what we are building within the Permian Basin and believe that access to cheap, reliable energy is key to attracting top-tier partners.
E. Will Gray II, CEO of New Era Helium.
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Source: New Era Helium
Photo: Shutterstock
