AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – The Texas Tech University System has announced a partnership with Fermi America to build “one of the most significant power campuses in the U.S. and the largest advanced energy, private grid, and intelligence development in the world” near the Pantex facility.
According to TTU officials, the Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus will span 5,800 acres and include 18 million square feet of artificial intelligence data centers. The campus is expected to generate up to 11 gigawatts of IT capacity through a mix of natural gas, solar, wind, and nuclear energy.
“The Texas Tech University System is proud to partner with Fermi America on this historic endeavor,” said Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D. “Texas is the energy capital of the world, and this campus will not only be the largest energy and data complex of its kind, but also a testament to the unshakable spirit of our system, the Texas Panhandle, and this great state.”
Fermi America, co-founded by former U.S. Energy Secretary and Texas Governor Rick Perry, is contributing infrastructure energy solutions to support the U.S.’s participation in the “energy-intensive AI race.”
Perry framed the project as a “call to action” in response to President Donald Trump’s May executive order, which designated AI data centers located at or in coordination with Department of Energy (DOE) facilities as critical defense infrastructure. The order also classifies the nuclear reactors powering them as defense-critical electric infrastructure.
Fermi America’s official announcement describes the site as “the only location capable of hosting safe, clean, new nuclear power, the nation’s largest combined-cycle natural gas project, utility grid power, solar, and battery energy storage—at unprecedented scale.”
The nearby Pantex plant is a U.S. Department of Energy Superfund site, though it does not generate nuclear energy.
TTU’s announcement did not confirm whether the new campus will include a dedicated nuclear power generator or provide a timeline for that aspect of development. Details on expected water or electricity resource requirements were also not specified.
For comparison, APR Energy’s nearby 800-acre data center development near Pampa is expected to use 2 gigawatts of natural gas and 1.5 million gallons of water per day.
TTU officials noted that the campus will offer academic and research opportunities for faculty and students, including internships, employment, workforce training, and placement programs across the university system.
“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 for our students and research possibilities across many disciplines for our faculty,” said TTU President Lawrence Schovanec.
According to Fermi America, the project aims to deliver 1 gigawatt of power by the end of 2026.
