{"version":1,"type":"story","url":"https://digestai.news/story/crusoe-builds-googles-texas-ai-data-center-campus-with-wind-powered-co","json":"https://digestai.news/story/crusoe-builds-googles-texas-ai-data-center-campus-with-wind-powered-co.json","markdown":"https://digestai.news/story/crusoe-builds-googles-texas-ai-data-center-campus-with-wind-powered-co.md","slug":"crusoe-builds-googles-texas-ai-data-center-campus-with-wind-powered-co","headline":"Crusoe builds Google’s Texas AI data center campus with wind-powered cooling","summary":"The project, which broke ground in June 2025, employs over 5,500 skilled workers daily and aims to power advanced AI infrastructure using renewable energy sources. The campus connects directly to Serena’s **Goodnight 1** wind farm (265.5 MW, operational) and the under-construction **Goodnight 2** wind farm (265.5 MW), feeding surplus power back to the grid when demand is low. Crusoe’s CEO, **Chase Lochmiller**, described the site as part of the company’s energy-first strategy, co-locating data centers near abundant, low-cost renewable generation to reduce curtailment and improve energy utilization.\n\nThe design includes a closed-loop, non-evaporative liquid cooling system to minimize water use. Crusoe’s blog post explained its ‘across the meter’ model, which captures stranded renewable energy by matching AI load with onsite generation. The company cited **ERCOT’s 2025 State of the Market Report**, noting that **4.7% of wind generation was curtailed** in 2025, while **5% of electricity is lost during transmission**, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Google’s **Texas Energy Impact Fund**, part of a **$30 million commitment**, supports energy efficiency upgrades in local public buildings and homes, including pre-weatherization repairs in Armstrong, Ellis, Haskell, and Wilbarger Counties. Crusoe’s portfolio now includes this Armstrong County campus and two others under development in Abilene.","keyPoints":["Project employs over 5,500 workers daily and uses closed-loop cooling to reduce water use, per Crusoe’s announcement","Google’s $30 million Texas Energy Impact Fund funds energy upgrades in local public buildings and homes since May 2026"],"whyItMatters":"The project demonstrates how AI infrastructure can be built near renewable energy sources to reduce waste and lower costs, setting a model for future data center development.","category":{"slug":"hardware","name":"Hardware & Compute","url":"https://digestai.news/category/hardware"},"entities":{"companies":["Google","Serena","The Energy Management Alliance","Solar United Neighbors","Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute"],"models":[],"people":["Chase Lochmiller"]},"firstPublishedAt":"2026-09-28T11:41:00Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-28T11:41:00Z","sourceCount":1,"hasPrimarySource":false,"sources":[{"outlet":"Unite.AI","title":"Crusoe Reveals Developer Role at Google’s Texas AI Data Center Campus","url":"https://unite.ai/crusoe-reveals-developer-role-at-googles-texas-ai-data-center-campus","publishedAt":"2026-09-28T11:41:00Z","type":"press","primary":false,"lead":true}],"sourceNotes":null,"discussions":[],"thread":{"title":"Crusoe's AI Funding and Turbine Deal Saga","url":"https://digestai.news/thread/crusoe-raises-3-9-billion-series-f-valuing-company-at-30-9-billion","storyCount":3},"cite":{"text":"Digest AI, \"Crusoe builds Google’s Texas AI data center campus with wind-powered cooling\", 28 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/crusoe-builds-googles-texas-ai-data-center-campus-with-wind-powered-co","publisher":"Digest AI","title":"Crusoe builds Google’s Texas AI data center campus with wind-powered cooling","datePublished":"2026-09-28T11:41:00Z","url":"https://digestai.news/story/crusoe-builds-googles-texas-ai-data-center-campus-with-wind-powered-co"},"generatedBy":"Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record.","license":"Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse"}