Data Centers in the Permian Basin and West Texas

West Texas has become a place to build data centers and crypto mines. Land is available, natural gas is close, and much of West Texas is on the ERCOT grid (El Paso and SE New Mexico are served by other grids). We keep a map of data center, crypto mine and battery sites in West Texas and Lea and Eddy County, New Mexico, built from public sources.

What the map shows

As of October 15, 2026, the map lists 89 data center and crypto mining sites and 104 battery storage sites. Of the 89 compute sites, 55 are listed as AI or hyperscale, 24 as crypto or high-performance computing and 10 as colocation. 37 are listed as operating (2 of them idle), 18 as under construction and 34 as permitted or announced. Counties with the most entries include Pecos, El Paso, Lubbock, Ector (Odessa), Reeves and Ward. Each entry links to its sources. Plans change often, so check the map for the current status.

Notable sites in and near the Permian

A few of the larger projects on the map, with public sources. Status and sizes change, so check the sources for the latest.

• Project Kilby (Microsoft and Chevron), Reeves County: a planned data center about 20 miles south of Pecos with a co-located gas power plant of about 2.67 GW. Chevron signed a 20-year power deal with Microsoft in June 2026, with a final investment decision expected by end of 2026 and first power expected in 2028 (Chevron).
• Core Scientific Pecos, Reeves County: an operating campus at 1939 FM 2119 with 300 MW of Bitcoin mining capacity, being converted to AI and high-performance computing. The first AI hosting capacity is expected in early 2027 (DCD).
• Cipher Odessa, Ector County: an operating Cipher Mining site of about 200 MW (DCD).
• Cipher Black Pearl, Winkler County: a Cipher site near Wink, reported at 150 MW in late 2025 (DCD).
• Nscale Ward County, near Barstow: the former Ionic Digital Cedarvale facility, leased in full (234 MW) to AI cloud company Nscale under a 10-year lease announced October 2025 (Ionic Digital).

Why here

• Power: several projects plan on-site gas generation along with grid power.
• Land: large tracts near substations and pipelines.
• Batteries: battery storage projects are going up across the same counties.

Texas rules for large power users

Texas changed the rules for big new loads on the ERCOT grid in 2025. Senate Bill 6 applies to new or expanded interconnections of more than 75 megawatts at one site. Those customers must disclose on-site backup generation that can serve at least half their demand. In an energy emergency, after ERCOT has used its other market services, it can direct them to switch to that backup or cut load. Utilities must also set up a way to curtail new transmission-voltage customers during firm load shed (SB 6, enrolled text). The Public Utility Commission writes the detailed standards. Many of the West Texas projects on our map already plan on-site gas generation, which matters under these rules.

What these sites need from crews

Construction and operation bring the same kinds of work the oilfield already does: hauling, dirt work, roustabout labor, equipment rental and site cleanup. Many sites also require current safety cards. Some data center sites ask for First Aid/CPR/AED, and sites near oil and gas operations may require H2S training. See CPR certification in Midland-Odessa and training for Odessa crews.

The work changes with the phase of a project:

• Site prep: clearing, grading, pads and roads, which is the same dirt work oilfield locations need.
• Construction: hauling equipment and materials, rental equipment, and cleanup as buildings and substations go up.
• On-site power: gas generation brings gas lines and equipment like that on a compressor station, and the same safety training questions.
• Operation: grounds upkeep, weed control around fences and substations, and trained first aid responders on every shift.

Remote sites far from EMS also fall under OSHA's first aid rule. See OSHA first aid requirements for remote sites.

How Simba Services helps

We work across the Permian Basin with hotshot, roustabout, vac and kill trucks, equipment rental, dirt work and licensed weed control. We also teach H2S and First Aid/CPR/AED in Greenwood, TX or at your site, up to 10 people per class.

See every West Texas data center, crypto mine and battery site on our data center map.