Fluidstack breaks ground on $4 billion data center campus in Cameron County

Fluidstack has officially broken ground on the first phase of its $4 billion data center campus in Cameron County, Texas. The extensive project, spanning over 1,100 acres situated east of Valley International Airport and west of the Port of Harlingen, is projected to generate more than 2,500 construction jobs and several hundred permanent positions.

The development aligns with directives from Governor Greg Abbott, ERCOT, and the Public Utility Commission of Texas, as well as the Cameron County Resolution on data centers. Fluidstack has committed to fully covering all energy, infrastructure, and water costs, assuring residents will not bear these expenses. The company also confirmed it will not seek local property tax breaks, expecting to contribute millions annually to the local tax base.

The groundbreaking follows a period of public pushback that led Harlingen city commissioners to table a drainage agreement with Fluidstack. This agreement would have allowed the company to route stormwater into a city-owned canal. Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda clarified that the project is not located within Harlingen's city limits and therefore the city lacked the authority to halt it, noting that Fluidstack is proceeding without the city's direct involvement.

Mayor Sepulveda revealed that Cameron County has since approved the necessary permits for Fluidstack and provided an alternative drainage solution. She also indicated that an anticipated $20 million in infrastructure improvements for Harlingen might now be reallocated to Cameron County as part of this arrangement. Cameron County Commissioner David A. Garza welcomed the project, emphasizing Fluidstack's self-funded infrastructure, full tax contributions, and minimal water usage through a closed-loop cooling system supplied by East Rio Hondo Water Supply Corporation.