This Month's Latest Tech News in Amarillo, TX - Thursday July 31st 2025 Edition

Amarillo, Texas, is rapidly emerging as a national AI powerhouse with the unveiling of the HyperGrid campus, a collaboration between Fermi America and the Texas Tech University System.

Spanning nearly 5,800 acres near the Pantex Plant, this $300 billion project aims to deliver up to 11 gigawatts of power - sufficient for over 8 million homes - across an 18 million square-foot AI data center complex, making it the largest nuclear power complex in the U.S. The campus integrates multiple energy sources, including four planned 1-gigawatt Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactors, combined-cycle natural gas turbines, solar, wind, battery storage, and grid access, with an initial 1 gigawatt targeted by 2026 and full completion by 2032.

Alongside cutting-edge AI infrastructure, the project prioritizes workforce development and education via dedicated research facilities and partnerships with local colleges, offering thousands of jobs and training opportunities to support regional economic diversification.

Texas Tech Chancellor Tedd Mitchell describes it as a "national security priority," while Fermi co-founder Rick Perry emphasizes the project's role in reclaiming U.S. energy dominance amid global competition.

This visionary initiative dovetails with growing AI energy demands nationally, underscoring how Amarillo is shaping the future of clean, reliable power and AI innovation.

Potential technologists can build skills to thrive in this evolving landscape through Nucamp's AI Essentials for Work and Solo AI Tech Entrepreneur bootcamps.

Learn more about HyperGrid's transformative impact in the Amarillo Globe-News, infrastructure details at Data Center Dynamics, and broader AI energy trends from ENR's Power Hungry report.

The Texas Tech University System (TTU System) and energy technology leader Fermi America have announced plans to develop the world's largest advanced energy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) campus in the Texas Panhandle, spanning approximately 5,800 acres near the Pantex nuclear facility.

This ambitious project, known as the HyperGrid campus, will incorporate 18 million square feet of data center space and support up to 11 gigawatts of IT capacity, powered by a diverse energy mix including natural gas, solar, wind, and clean nuclear energy.

The first gigawatt of capacity is expected to be operational by the end of 2026. Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell of Texas Tech emphasized the campus as a "national security priority" and a testament to Texas's leadership in energy, while Rick Perry, co-founder of Fermi America and former U.S. Energy Secretary, framed the initiative as a critical response to global competition, particularly highlighting China's construction of 22 nuclear reactors.

Beyond energy and AI infrastructure, the campus will foster academic and workforce development through research facilities, internships, and training programs benefiting all five TTU System institutions.

This partnership aligns with federal goals outlined in the CHIPS and Science Act, supporting semiconductor, AI, and clean energy innovation. The campus's strategic location near major natural gas pipelines and advanced fiber networks enhances its capacity to meet soaring demand for AI applications and sustainable energy solutions.

Learn more about the collaboration between TTU System and Fermi America, the campus's scale and technological capacity, and how this development represents a pivotal chapter in U.S. energy and AI leadership from Amarillo Globe-News coverage.

Fermi America has secured a substantial 600 MW natural gas power capacity to support its ambitious AI campus development in Amarillo, leveraging the latest advancements in combined cycle power plants (CCPP) technology.

Utilizing Siemens Energy's highly efficient gas and steam turbines, these CCPPs achieve over 64% efficiency by capturing exhaust heat to generate additional electricity via steam turbines, significantly reducing carbon emissions compared to traditional power plants.

This flexible and reliable power generation approach aligns with global energy transition efforts, as seen in recent projects like the 1,200 MW Kuo Kuang 2 power plant in Taiwan, which employs Siemens' SGT6-9000HL turbines to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 66%.

Fermi America's integration of such advanced combined cycle systems reflects industry trends where heavy-duty gas turbines dominate with 62% market share, and capacities between 1 MW and 30 MW hold 45% of market share in 2025.

The new power capacity will help Amarillo's AI campus meet growing energy demands while maintaining environmental responsibility, positioning the region as a leader in cutting-edge tech infrastructure.

For further details on combined cycle power plants, Siemens Energy's gas turbine portfolio, and industry market forecasts, see the Siemens Energy combined cycle power plants overview, Siemens Energy gas turbines product line, and Process Plants Gas Turbine Market Trends 2025 to 2035.

The Helios data center campus in Dickens County, Texas, originally a cryptocurrency mining facility operated by Argo Blockchain, is undergoing a significant transformation as it pivots to support artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads.

After Galaxy Digital Holdings acquired Helios for $65 million in late 2022, the company entered a pivotal 15-year lease with AI cloud provider CoreWeave, backed by Nvidia, to house their GPU infrastructure.

CoreWeave initially leased 133 MW of critical IT load with a total power commitment of 200 MW, with plans now expanded by an additional 260 MW, bringing their total contracted capacity close to 393 MW, to be delivered through phased expansions through 2027.

This strategic transition marks Galaxy's shift from Bitcoin mining toward scalable AI infrastructure, leveraging Helios's approved 800 MW power capacity and anticipated expansions up to 2.5 GW. The facility is being retrofitted with new fiber connectivity and specialized optical networking to support modern AI workloads.

Dickens County leaders have highlighted the economic benefits, including better jobs and increased tax revenues, while Galaxy emphasizes diversifying revenue streams beyond volatile digital asset markets.

Galaxy's CEO Mike Novogratz noted,

“This Phase II commitment with CoreWeave marks another major step in Galaxy's evolution as a trusted partner for the next generation of data center infrastructure.”

CoreWeave's growing presence, with over 250,000 GPUs across 32 data centers and key customers like Microsoft and OpenAI, positions Helios as a premier hub in West Texas's emerging AI data center ecosystem.

To learn more, see the detailed reports on CoreWeave's expanded lease in Texas, Galaxy's official announcement of the CoreWeave partnership, and local insights from the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal coverage.

AI company Cognigy, renowned for its advanced conversational AI platforms serving over 1,000 global brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Nestle, and Toyota, recently relocated its U.S. headquarters from San Francisco to Plano, Texas, citing North Texas's business-friendly environment and robust talent pool as key factors.

The move has positioned Cognigy to expand its U.S. workforce significantly, with plans to grow from about 50 employees to 150-200 within three years. This strategic relocation precedes its acquisition by publicly traded customer experience firm NiCE for approximately $955 million, reflecting strong enterprise fundamentals with an estimated 25x revenue multiple based on 2024 projections.

Founded in Germany, Cognigy maintains European headquarters in Düsseldorf and continues global operations from there while integrating with NiCE's AI-driven customer contact solutions.

Offering an agentic AI platform launched in late 2024, Cognigy's technology enables AI agents capable of autonomous, personalized customer interactions, reinforcing NiCE's vision to streamline customer experience management.

As reported by D Magazine, Cognigy's relocation aligns with a broader trend of tech companies moving HQs to North Texas, enhancing the region's reputation as an emerging innovation hub.

This acquisition, expected to complete by Q4 2025 pending regulatory approval, marks a significant step in accelerating AI adoption in customer experience technologies, supporting both companies' growth ambitions in the competitive AI marketplace.

The surge in AI-powered data centers is driving an unprecedented increase in electricity demand, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) projecting global data center electricity use will more than double by 2030 to roughly 945 terawatt-hours - exceeding Japan's entire current consumption.

In the US alone, data centers are expected to account for nearly half the growth in electricity demand by 2030, with power needs rising from about 35 gigawatts today to an estimated 78 gigawatts by 2035, per BloombergNEF analysis.

This rapid growth challenges existing energy infrastructure due to extended lead times for new transmission capacity and the need for updated cooling systems like liquid cooling to accommodate powerful AI GPUs.

Natural gas and renewables, particularly solar and geothermal, are leading energy sources with increasing investments in clean energy projects, while nuclear energy gains renewed momentum through Small Modular Reactor (SMR) initiatives to provide consistent, low-carbon power.

However, delays in permitting, grid interconnection bottlenecks, and rising cybersecurity risks related to AI heighten operational complexities. As McKinsey notes, the balance between rapid AI data center expansion and sustainable, reliable energy delivery will require substantial investment - over $500 billion projected in US data center infrastructure alone - and coordinated efforts among policymakers, utilities, and technology sectors.

The industry also faces heightened scrutiny about carbon emissions, as AI data centers often rely on carbon-intensive energy sources despite their massive electricity consumption.

IEA's detailed report on AI-driven energy demand growth outlines these trends, while Energy journal Joule's comprehensive analysis of AI-fueled data center infrastructure and financing challenges highlights critical issues.

Further insights on US infrastructure scalability for AI economies are offered by Deloitte's 2025 AI Infrastructure Survey on data center investments and innovation.

These combined perspectives underscore the critical need for innovation, investment, and policy reform to meet the power demands of AI-driven data center growth sustainably and reliably.

Fermi America, in partnership with the Texas Tech University System, is developing a groundbreaking $300 billion Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus near Amarillo, Texas, poised to become the world's largest AI and advanced energy hub.

Spanning nearly 5,800 acres adjacent to the Pantex Plant, this massive campus will feature 18 million square feet of AI data centers powered by an unprecedented 11 gigawatts of electricity from a diverse mix of clean energy sources - including nuclear, solar, natural gas, and battery storage - with plans to install four on-site AP1000 nuclear reactors, marking the largest civilian nuclear project ever proposed in the U.S. Fermi America anticipates creating between 3,000 and 5,000 jobs by 2035, emphasizing workforce development through collaborations with Amarillo College, West Texas A&M, and Texas Tech University to cultivate local talent in energy and advanced computing.

The campus strategy focuses on sustainability, using cutting-edge closed-loop water recycling and solar-covered retention ponds to minimize environmental impact without raising local energy costs.

Industry experts highlight this project as a critical step in overcoming the U.S.'s energy infrastructure challenges amid surging AI demands, aligning with federal initiatives such as the CHIPS and Science Act and national security priorities.

As Texas Tech Chancellor Tedd Mitchell notes, this campus underscores Texas's status as the global energy capital, while Fermi co-founder Toby Neugebauer envisions "the smartest computers on the planet" operating within Amarillo's cleanest, greenest private power grid.

The development aims to activate 1 gigawatt of power by the end of 2026, marking a pivotal moment in positioning Amarillo as a national leader in AI innovation and clean energy technology.

Learn more about Fermi America's $300 billion AI campus and job creation in Amarillo, Texas, the sustainability features of Texas' AI mega campus, and how the world's largest AI energy campus advances Texas Tech's academic goals.

During Amarillo's 2025 mayoral and city council candidate debates, a strong focus emerged on AI, tech infrastructure, and transparency to support the city's growing technology sector.

Incumbent Mayor Cole Stanley emphasized fiscal responsibility while defending investments in The RANGE, a key workforce and technology initiative, though he acknowledged infrastructure challenges like the critical wastewater treatment plant.

Challenger Jason Herrick advocated for greater transparency, infrastructure reform, and expansion of the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) board to enhance leadership and accountability.

City Council candidates similarly prioritized infrastructure upgrades, with Tim Reid and David Prescott highlighting the urgent need for wastewater system overhauls and electric grid improvements to attract and sustain AI and tech firms.

Several council candidates, including Misty Collier and Don Tipps, stressed improving public engagement through open forums, digital platforms, and transparent budgeting processes to ensure citizen input in key decisions, especially around tax changes and infrastructure projects.

There was consensus on streamlining municipal processes such as permits and inspections without compromising safety to foster a business-friendly environment supportive of tech growth.

Meanwhile, discussions around AEDC oversight underscored calls for balancing competitiveness in economic development with strong council accountability. Holly Jeffreys of High Plains Republican Women praised the debates as critical for voter education ahead of early voting starting April 22.

For comprehensive details on platforms and infrastructure plans discussed, readers can reference the Amarillo mayoral debate coverage, in-depth profiles of city council candidates, and the Amarillo City Council election forum summary for a detailed overview of local tech infrastructure support efforts.

Fermi America has recently secured a significant acquisition of over 600 MW of clean natural gas generation equipment, including six Siemens SGT800 gas turbines and associated heat recovery steam generators, aiming for delivery in 2025 to bolster its Amarillo AI HyperGrid project.

This move aligns with the escalating demand for gas-fired turbines driven by burgeoning AI data centers and electrification, despite the current industry challenges of extreme supply chain bottlenecks that have extended turbine lead times to between one and seven years and increased costs by as much as 2.5 times compared to prior years.

As highlighted by industry leaders like Siemens Energy North America President Rich Voorberg, the surge in gas turbine demand is unprecedented since the early 2000s, straining manufacturing capacities from key suppliers such as Siemens Energy, GE Vernova, and Mitsubishi Power.

The procurement reflects Fermi America's strategic response to these market pressures, securing crucial infrastructure to support Amarillo's emergence as an AI and advanced energy hub while navigating long equipment wait times and rising expenses.

For further details on the turbine supply crunch and Fermi America's acquisition, visit the PR Newswire announcement on Fermi America's turbine acquisition, the SP Global report on US gas-fired turbine wait times and costs, and the comprehensive Power Magazine coverage of the gas turbine market boom.

The innovative anti-drug campaign "Unfinished Legacies" uses artificial intelligence to give voice back to fentanyl overdose victims, allowing them to share their stories and warn others of the deadly risks they faced unknowingly.

This pioneering approach, highlighted in Kansas City where fentanyl deaths increased by over 1,000% in five years, employs AI to recreate victims' faces and voices, combining family footage and actor performances enhanced with AI technology to deliver powerful, personal messages.

As Juanita Coburn, mother of a victim, expressed, the campaign provides a heartfelt platform to prevent similar tragedies:

“We just decided we don't want it to happen to anyone else.”

While the campaign confronts ethical questions about normalizing deepfake technology, its transparency and impact on raising public awareness are evident.

Complementing such efforts, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration promotes the Faces of Fentanyl memorial exhibit and collaborates in national awareness days and prevention campaigns, underscoring the severity of the crisis where millions of lethal fentanyl doses are seized annually.

Meanwhile, Columbia University's HEALing Communities Study integrates AI to analyze overdose patterns and optimize community interventions, reflecting a multidisciplinary push to combat the epidemic.

For more on the anti-fentanyl campaign and AI's role in addressing overdose deaths, explore the comprehensive coverage at WDBJ7's report on AI-driven overdose victim stories, the DEA's dedicated Fentanyl Awareness resources, and Columbia's innovative public health research at Columbia University's HEALing Communities Study.

The Texas Tech University System and energy-tech leader Fermi America have announced a partnership that promises significant academic and workforce training benefits through their massive AI and advanced energy campus in the Texas Panhandle.

This collaboration includes the development of new interdisciplinary programs like Texas Tech's Online Bachelor of Science in Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, emphasizing ethical AI, user experience, and real-world applications.

This 100% online, asynchronous program equips students with skills in AI research, UX design, and data science, preparing them for careers in industries such as healthcare and technology.

Students benefit from flexible 8-week courses, free industry career certificates from Google, IBM, Meta, and prior learning credit opportunities, enhancing employability.

Additionally, the partnership enables internships, workforce training, and placement programs across all Texas Tech institutions, fostering a skilled pipeline aligned with the region's growing AI and energy sectors.

Governor Abbott's recent announcement of over $7.3 million in workforce grants further supports rapid training programs in IT and healthcare, complementing this initiative.

Together, Texas Tech and Fermi America aim to integrate education, research, and industry collaboration to meet the rising demand for AI-driven talent in North Texas.

For more details on Texas Tech's AI program, visit their Human-Centered AI Bachelor's degree page, explore the TTU System and Fermi America partnership announcement, and learn about Texas's workforce skills training grants program.

Amarillo, Texas is rapidly emerging as a pivotal hub in the intersection of advanced artificial intelligence and energy infrastructure, driven by monumental projects such as the Texas Tech University System and Fermi America's collaboration to build the world's largest advanced energy and AI campus spanning nearly 6,000 acres.

This campus will deliver up to 11 gigawatts of power - enough to energize Manhattan - and encompass 18 million square feet of AI data centers, marking a significant leap in both technology and energy sectors near the Pantex facility (Amarillo Globe-News coverage of the Fermi America and Texas Tech University AI campus project).

The initiative not only aims to position Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle at the forefront of U.S. competitiveness against international rivals but also to catalyze substantial job creation and academic research opportunities, supported by workforce development programs across all Texas Tech University System institutions (KCBD News report on job creation and workforce development in Amarillo's AI campus initiative).

Additionally, local infrastructure enhancements, including proposed edge data centers like Duos Edge AI's secure pod designed to bolster broadband reliability downtown, reinforce Amarillo's strategic role in building resilient technology ecosystems (Amarillo Globe-News article on Duos Edge AI's downtown data center plans).

This convergence of energy, AI innovation, and infrastructure development creates an immersive environment ideal for cultivating next-generation talent. Educators and trainees can now access practical AI learning and technology entrepreneurship pathways through programs such as Nucamp Bootcamp's AI Essentials and Solo AI Tech Entrepreneur courses, providing accessible skills designed for the evolving workforce demands of Amarillo's growing tech economy.

Amarillo's sustained investments and vision shape the city's trajectory as a national powerhouse, pioneering sustainable energy use and AI advancement that signals a transformative future for the region and beyond.