NewsChannel 10
February 25, 2026
AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) – The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has granted final approval for the nation’s second-largest Clean Air permit to Fermi America, marking a pivotal moment for Project Matador—an ambitious 11-gigawatt natural gas-based power generation data center slated for the Amarillo and Carson County area.
The approval comes after TCEQ reviewed and responded to all public comments submitted during a December public hearing on Fermi’s air quality permit application.
With this permit now secured, Fermi America is positioned to advance to the final stages of project finance and negotiations, and to begin the vertical phase of power generation construction.
“Securing the second largest Clean Air Permit in the country is yet one more significant milestone for our 11 GW private grid campus,” said Cathy Landtroop, Fermi America’s Chief Communications Officer and Director of Strategic Initiatives. “With the issuance of today’s air permit, the support of our fellow West Texans, and Toby’s foresight to lock up over 2 GW of long lead time power assets, Fermi is uniquely positioned to help America’s hyperscalers quickly secure the private power they need at scale.”
The permit approval clears the path for several critical next steps:
- Construction Phase: Fermi can now proceed with the vertical phase of power generation construction
- Equipment Mobilization: The company will mobilize its gas turbine fleet—six assets currently stationed in Houston—to the Amarillo campus.
- Project Finance: Fermi will advance through final stages of project financing and partnership negotiations
The timing of this permit approval aligns with growing national attention to the energy demands of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
During his recent State of the Union address, President Trump announced the “Ratepayer Protection Pledge,” which requires major technology companies to provide their own power generation to prevent increases in electricity bills for consumers.
“We’re telling the major tech companies that they have the obligation to provide for their own power needs,” President Trump stated. “They can build their own power plants as part of their factory so that no one’s prices will go up and in many cases prices of electricity will go down for the community and very substantially down.”
The Clean Air permit confirms that Project Matador’s operations will comply with both state and federal emission standards, addressing environmental concerns raised by community members.
The permit was required before construction could commence, which is why Fermi had paused construction pending this approval.
With air permitting now secured, Fermi America is positioned to accelerate Project Matador toward completion.
The project represents a significant investment in West Texas infrastructure and underscores the region’s emerging role as a hub for advanced technology and data center operations.
