Massive data center could change small West Texas town forever

A massive artificial intelligence data center could be coming to the grasslands southeast of Marfa, Texas, according to a new report.

The proposed facility—still in early planning stages—would be built on 80,000 acres of ranch land currently owned by billionaire Brad Kelley's Texas Mountain Cattle Company, according to a report from The Big Bend Sentinel's Mary Cantrell. The land includes the historic MacGuire and Antelope Springs ranches, roughly tucked between Marfa and the Mexican border.

Energy company Open Origin is leading the project and is one of several firms responding to a massive $500 billion infrastructure push known as The Stargate Project—a private initiative backed by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle to supercharge AI capacity nationwide. If completed, the Marfa-area facility could be one of 20 new data hubs built across the U.S.

Local officials told Cantrell the center could bring 900 to 1,100 jobs to the region, a significant economic boost for a rural county facing budget constraints and limited growth. The facility would reportedly be powered entirely by on-site solar energy and may include a green ammonia plant to support low-carbon fuel production.

But not everyone is convinced.

Presidio County Commissioner David Beebe and other officials have raised concerns over the proposed water usage. Per Cantrell's report, Open Origin may pump up to 800 acre-feet of groundwater per year—more than the City of Marfa currently consumes. For a desert region already grappling with water scarcity, the scale of this usage is drawing scrutiny. For reference, one acre-foot equals 325,851 gallons.

Beyond water, residents are also worried about how the project might affect housing availability, strain infrastructure and disrupt Marfa's famed dark skies—long a draw for tourists, artists and stargazers.

Beebe acknowledged the potential for increased tax revenue and high-paying jobs in the area, but cautioned against rushing in. "I don't want to ruin this piece of paradise just to have it be used for five years," he told Cantrell. "If we're going to do this, we need a 20- to 30-year project so that we can really, honestly benefit from it."

The land sale has not yet been finalized, and Open Origin has said it plans to engage with the community as discussions move forward.

Texas is experiencing a surge in AI-driven data centers, primarily due to the "Stargate" project. The first site to be built will be in Abilene, and others are planned across Central Texas. The data centers require substantial energy consumption and are raising concerns about the state's grid and water resources.