French Company Plans $7.5B ‘AI Factory’ Data Center In Frankfort
DataOne, a French data center developer, plans to build a $7.5 billion "AI factory data center campus" in Frankfort, Indiana, after a previous project in Clinton County failed. The 800,000 square foot facility on 115 acres will create 200 permanent jobs and use a closed-loop water cooling system. The project is currently in the approval process with Frankfort city officials, with a city council vote scheduled for September 28.
DataOne, a French data center development company, has announced plans for a $7.5 billion "AI factory data center campus" in Frankfort, Indiana. This move comes after the company's previous large-scale data center plans in Clinton County were rejected by county commissioners in January due to a lack of support.
The proposed facility will span 800,000 square feet on 115 acres of industrially zoned land on Frankfort's western edge. DataOne states the project will create significant construction jobs and approximately 200 permanent on-site positions. According to CEO Charles-Antoine Beyney, DataOne chose Frankfort due to its existing zoning, proximity to the Frankfort Municipal Airport, and its location within an hour of Purdue University, expressing a desire to build community trust and be a strong local partner.
The AI factory will be a high-density data center specifically designed for training and running artificial intelligence models, utilizing specialized GPUs, advanced liquid cooling, and ultra-fast networking. It will operate on a closed-loop water cooling system with a daily consumption of 22,000 gallons. Power will be supplied by on-site fuel cells and grid power from the Indiana Municipal Power Agency, with DataOne committing to fund and build two new substations, one of which will be transferred to the city.
The project is currently undergoing an approval process with Frankfort city officials and is scheduled for a city council vote on September 28. Mayor Judy Sheets has encouraged public engagement, requesting DataOne to host two community open houses for residents to learn more and ask questions before the council meeting.