Project Thunderbird data center proposal, promises 600 jobs and self-generated power
Plainsmen Holdings has proposed "Project Thunderbird," a multi-campus data center development in Enid, Oklahoma, promising 600 jobs and significant revenue. The developers plan to self-generate up to 3.3 gigawatts of power using natural gas and utilize Enid's Kaw Lake pipeline for water, aiming to address common concerns about data center resource consumption. The proposal is moving towards key zoning votes with the Enid Planning Commission and City Commission in late September and early October.
Plainsmen Holdings, a group founded by four Enid natives including Jason and Aaron Singer, Chad Dillingham, and Troy Phillips, has unveiled "Project Thunderbird," a massive multi-campus data center development for Enid, Oklahoma. Pitched as "Designed with Enid, built for Enid," the project aims to establish four large data center campuses, providing infrastructure for AI, cloud computing, banking, and national security. Developers anticipate the project will create over 600 high-paying permanent jobs and 4,000 short-term construction jobs over seven years, alongside unprecedented revenue for the city.
A key aspect of Project Thunderbird is its plan to address common data center concerns regarding power and water usage. The proposal outlines self-generating up to 3.3 gigawatts of power using a natural gas power plant, which developers claim will not strain the existing electric grid or raise residents' rates. For water, the project intends to utilize Enid's Kaw Lake pipeline, a replenishable source, and will include a surcharge on water usage to fund watershed and habitat restoration. The project also promises benefits to homeowners near the campuses, offering to buy homes at 150% of fair market value or provide a $15,000 improvement grant.
The development, covering approximately 1,735 acres, is positioned as a potential national model for data center integration, particularly due to Enid's existing infrastructure and its newly adopted data center ordinance. Mike Cooper, executive director of the Vance Development Authority, highlighted the project's potential to provide off-grid backup power and secure fiber connections to Vance Air Force Base, fulfilling a military directive for off-grid operations by 2030 and enhancing mission capabilities. The Project Thunderbird proposal is scheduled for review by the Enid Planning Commission on September 28 and the Enid City Commission on October 6 for property rezoning approval.