- The US military received more than 200 proposals and approved 20 for immediate execution.
- Four military facilities could soon host large-scale data center campuses across the United States
- All proposed installations must generate their own energy without resorting to local networks.
The US military is exploring plans for the development of new data centers as it tries to avoid the community resistance that major technology companies are increasingly facing.
Officials say future projects will involve direct engagement with residents and address concerns related to energy use, water use and economic impact.
The U.S. Army received more than 200 responses to a March 2026 call to solicit ideas from private industry on how to improve its infrastructure through new contracting models and public-private partnerships.
Among the proposals received, approximately 120 were considered viable, while about 20 have already entered various stages of execution.
Army officials are now examining plans that could bring data center facilities to four military installations across the United States; Potential locations include Fort Bliss in Texas, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Dugway Proving Ground in Utah.
Unlike many commercial developments that have faced criticism over resource consumption, the Army says proposed facilities must include independent power generation and net-zero water use plans.
The Army is holding discussions with residents, utility providers and private sector partners before construction decisions are finalized.
Army representatives recently met with community members near Fort Bliss along with El Paso Water, El Paso Electric and Carlisle, the company interested in developing a facility on nearly 1,400 unused acres.
Col. John Oliver said the Army’s approach differs from that of private technology companies because military installations already exist in surrounding communities.
“So I think the difference between us, the Army, doing a data center and, say, Meta or Google, is that we are part of the communities that are there,” he said.
Darrell West, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, argued that transparency remains critical because residents often want detailed information about water consumption, electricity supply, costs and expected noise levels.
Broader infrastructure plans extend beyond IT facilities
The Army Strategic Capital Initiative is also examining proposals involving manufacturing modernization, logistics improvements and domestic industrial expansion.
More than 95% of submissions came from organizations that had not previously worked with the Army, creating opportunities for new partnerships.
Several projects have already moved forward, including a turboshaft engine modernization facility at Corpus Christi Army Depot and new energy products manufacturing initiatives at facilities in Pine Bluff and McAlester.
Army leaders are also evaluating proposals involving critical mineral processing and power generation technologies.
According to Oliver, future energy systems could include geothermal resources, gas turbines or small modular nuclear reactors, depending on local needs.
Long-term planning goes beyond the construction of individual facilities and instead envisions a broader ecosystem that combines military computing, commercial operations and dedicated power generation.
“Our data centers aren’t going to be just big buildings in the middle of nowhere run by 10 people,” Oliver said.
The proposal reflects a growing recognition that artificial intelligence tools, energy infrastructure and all major data centers increasingly depend on community acceptance as much as technical capacity.
Via Defense One
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