Microsoft takes Texas AI hub
Microsoft leased a massive 900 MW AI data‑center project in Texas that had been tied to Oracle and OpenAI, signaling a pullback in the exclusive Microsoft–OpenAI alignment and a push toward cloud and compute control. The move underscores vendor‑agnostic infrastructure bets and raises questions about where major LLM workloads will run next. (bloomberg.com)
Crusoe’s March 27 press release says the new Abilene campus will add a dedicated 900 MW “AI factory” for Microsoft made up of two new buildings plus an on-site power plant, bringing the full Abilene site to about 2.1 GW of planned capacity. (crusoe.ai: ) Bloomberg reports Microsoft agreed to occupy the project after Oracle and OpenAI stepped away, and Crusoe told Bloomberg the first of the new buildings is expected to be completed and powered by mid‑2027. (bloomberg.com: ) Crusoe and Data Center Dynamics state each of the two new buildings will offer roughly 336 MW of IT capacity and that the build pairs a 900 MW behind‑the‑meter power plant with a medium‑voltage battery energy storage system for resiliency. (datacenterdynamics.com: ) (datacenterknowledge.com: ) Early coverage from Reuters and several outlets cited the site at about 700 MW before Crusoe’s announcement, creating a reported discrepancy between initial lease estimates and Crusoe’s later 900 MW disclosure. (money.usnews.com (Reuters): ) (crusoe.ai: ) Crusoe says the project builds on prior Abilene phases—two 100 MW buildings energized in under a year and a second phase that expanded the campus toward 1.2 GW—so Microsoft’s addition will bring the site to roughly ten buildings and the cited ~2.1 GW footprint. (crusoe.ai: ) (datacenterknowledge.com: ) Crusoe and Microsoft executives framed the build as “energy‑first” infrastructure and Microsoft’s Cloud Operations exec Noelle Walsh said the deal secures “reliable and responsible infrastructure at scale,” while industry reporting notes Microsoft has been rapidly adding gigawatts of data‑center capacity in recent quarters. (crusoe.ai: ) (datacenterdynamics.com: )
