- Texas and Utah named as first Army bases to allow data centers
- External business partners will be responsible for construction and operation.
- The Army would benefit from access to computer and artificial intelligence tools, which are a “strategic asset”
The US military has confirmed plans to hose commercial data centers at at least four of its “underutilized” military bases, offering opportunities for private companies to build and operate them.
Fort Bliss, Texas and Dugway Proving Ground, Utah have already been confirmed, and the Army is also close to confirming two more sites at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Fort Hood, Texas.
Under the new plans, unused Army land would be leased to private developers who have full control of the data centers, from financing and construction to operating the campuses once they are live.
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The US military will rent some bases for data centers
In exchange, the Army would gain access to the computing power of selected partners to manage the data centers.
On that front, the plans are part of a broader push for the military to use artificial intelligence technology to help detect threats and protect the United States against potential attacks. But on the land accommodation front, this marks the first plan of its kind to offer Army space for commercial opportunities.
“AI is a strategic asset for the Army,” Secretary Dan Driscoll wrote. Carlyle, CyrusOne, KKR and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) have been named partners for the new plan.
“By partnering with the private sector to develop state-of-the-art data centers on our installations, we are strengthening our national security, driving technological innovation, and building a more resilient, modern military,” added Deputy Assistant Secretary David R. Fitzgerald.
Of course, these sites will not be exempt from the usual local concerns around high energy and water consumption, increased electricity costs for nearby residents, and general noise and unsightliness. Since military bases are generally shielded from nearby communities, the impacts may not be as severe as those of typical data center construction.
It would likely be up to the associated companies to manage resource use to minimize local and environmental impacts. The sites include areas within a half-mile radius of residential areas and others more than a mile away.
As for the next stages, negotiations, reviews and agreements are still ongoing, and initial operational capability could be planned for 2027.
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