Jackson developer won’t reveal site of proposed tech hub; says it’s in the metro area
A Jackson developer, Gabriel Prado, is moving forward with plans for a tech campus, including a data center and a 1-gigawatt natural gas power plant, despite the Mississippi Public Service Commission denying a previous request for a declaratory opinion. This comes amidst local opposition to a proposed data center moratorium and a rezoning request by Saxum Investment Group for another data center site in the Jackson metro area. Prado's company, Prado AI, will now seek full permitting for the power plant.
Jackson, Miss. developer Gabriel Prado is pressing forward with plans for a large tech campus, which includes a data center and a proposed 1-gigawatt natural gas power plant, despite a recent setback from the Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC). The PSC denied Prado AI's request for a declaratory opinion on building a 350-megawatt natural gas plant, citing insufficient information regarding the plant's operation and potential lessees at the site. Prado indicated that the PSC's decision would allow his company to proceed with full permitting under state statute, bypassing the opinion.
The project's undisclosed location in the Jackson metro area has fueled speculation, particularly after a rezoning request was filed by Saxum Investment Group for a 190-acre site along Forest Avenue, which many believe is connected to Prado's plans. This development coincides with a proposed moratorium on data centers introduced by Ward Four Councilman Brian Grizzell, which was recently tabled by the city council. The rezoning request for the Forest Avenue site drew significant public protest at a recent Planning Board meeting, and the matter was subsequently pulled from the agenda by Saxum's attorney, Robert Ireland.
Prado voiced strong opposition to any moratorium, emphasizing Mississippi's potential to lead in AI and semiconductor industries. His initial request to the PSC faced opposition from established utilities like Entergy Mississippi, Mississippi Power Company, and Delta Mississippi Gas Company LLC, which raised concerns about potential deregulation and impacts on the state's utility framework. Prado AI maintains that the power plant would not connect to the existing grid, exclusively serving the on-site campus, and will now pursue environmental permitting for the facility.