Pacifico Energy has cleared a major regulatory milestone in Texas after securing approval for its massive GW Ranch project, positioning the development as the largest permitted data center power campus in the United States and reinforcing West Texas’ growing role in supporting AI and digital infrastructure.
State regulators have issued an air-quality permit authorizing up to 7.65 gigawatts of gas-fired power generation at the GW Ranch site in Pecos County. Granted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the approval is the largest power-generation air permit ever issued in the country and meets both state and federal environmental standards.
The permit allows Pacifico Energy to proceed with full construction and long-term operation of the privately owned energy campus, which is being developed specifically to serve hyperscale data centers and other high-load computing facilities. With key environmental approvals now secured, the project can officially move from planning into execution.
Unlike traditional grid-connected power plants, GW Ranch is designed as a self-contained, private-grid energy system. The campus combines large-scale natural gas generation with battery energy storage and on-site solar capacity, enabling direct power delivery to customers without drawing electricity from the broader Texas grid.
According to the developer, this design supports the rapid expansion of AI-driven and digital infrastructure while shielding Texas consumers from additional strain on public grid infrastructure and potential electricity cost increases.
At full buildout, GW Ranch is planned to include:
The project spans more than 8,000 acres of build-ready land, with additional room for future expansion. Multiple natural gas supply connections support the site, including a dedicated high-capacity pipeline linking directly to the Waha Hub, one of North America’s most important natural gas trading centers. This infrastructure provides long-term fuel reliability and operational flexibility.
With permitting complete and site preparations underway, Pacifico Energy expects the project’s first 1-gigawatt phase to begin delivering power in the first half of 2027. The campus has a defined pathway to scale well beyond that initial phase as demand from data center customers continues to grow.
Rising electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and advanced manufacturing is pushing developers to pursue large-scale, dedicated energy solutions that can be delivered quickly and with regulatory certainty. Industry observers view GW Ranch as a potential blueprint for how future power infrastructure will be built to support next-generation data centers.
Local and regional leaders also point to the project’s broader economic impact. Construction activity, long-term investment, and ongoing operations are expected to create jobs, stimulate regional development, and further strengthen Texas’ position as a national leader in energy production.
With construction now authorized, GW Ranch stands as the largest fully permitted power campus in the U.S. designed specifically for AI and data center demand, highlighting how infrastructure investment in West Texas is reshaping both the energy sector and the future of digital innovation.
Originally reported by Peter Mwaniki in Construction Review Online.
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