The Power Connection Digest Issue #20

August 21, 2025

Peter Cook, Editor

Huge week for Permian power news. In fact, we have so much news, I am holding off on announcing the awesome silent auction fundraiser we are having at the Permian Power Connection Conference (who wants lunch with Liberty’s CEO Ron Gusek? How about with Expand Energy’s CEO Nick Dell’Osso? How about a round of golf with Williams’ former President & CEO Alan Armstrong?). Stay tuned for info on how you can take advantage of these once in a lifetime opportunities. [I’ll give you a hint: You will have to be at the conference!]

Speaking of the Permian Power Connection Conference, a warm welcome to several new sponsors! Shout outs to our new PLATINUM SPONSORS Crimson Group and Natura Resources, as well as to Bracewell (Gold Sponsor), Terrestrial Energy (Silver Sponsor), Milestone Environmental (Silver Sponsor), Vega Energy Advisors (Silver Sponsor), UMB Bank (Logo Sponsor), Meridian Craft Supply (Logo Sponsor), Outback Remote Power (Logo Sponsor), the Midland Chamber of Commerce (Supporting Organization) and the Spaceforce Association (Supporting Organization).

We only have 2 Silver Sponsorships remaining, 2 Platinum Sponsorships, and about a dozen Gold Sponsorships. Our Logo Sponsor option expires in ten days. If you want to showcase your company’s goods or services at the conference, sign up before it is too late!

And now, the news…

Could the Permian Basin Become America’s Next AI Data Hub?

Researcher Gabe Collins has a new piece out about how winning the electricity race is critical to winning the global AI race. In it, he describes as only he can how the Permian has a real opportunity to attract slices of capital spending from an AI-driven infrastructure investment boom larger than anything since the Shale Revolution.

Pacifico Energy Announces GW Ranch Project, Bringing 5 Gigawatts of Reliable Off-Grid Power for AI Innovation

Pacifico Energy just announced plans for the GW Ranch project, an off-grid power generation campus that has been in development since early 2024. The project, sited within 8,000+ acres in Pecos County, Texas, is purpose-built to support hyperscale data centers and AI. GW Ranch’s unique approach will provide 5 gigawatts (GW) of dedicated, highly reliable power.

OAOA Article Previews the Upcoming PPC Conference

The Odessa American writes: “Sept. 29-30 pow-wow features power industry’s leading lights.”

Texas, You Might Have an Energy Problem

David Blackmon talks about how a growing population and the rapid rise in energy-intensive data centers are also pushing U.S. energy demand to historic highs, especially in states like Texas, now among the top states with emerging data center markets.

JPMorgan and MUFG close to securing $22bn financing for Vantage's Texas data center project

The DigitalBridge and Silver Lake-backed company this week announced plans for the 1.4GW Frontier campus in Shackelford County, set to be home to 10 data centers totaling 3.7 million sq ft (343,741 sqm).

Caterpillar And Hunt Energy Sign Long-Term Strategic Agreement to Deliver Power Solutions for Data Centers

The first project is expected to launch in Texas, marking the start of a multi-year initiative to deliver up to 1GW of power generation capacity for data centers across North America, laying the foundation for future global deployment.

Aalo Atomics raises $100M to build a microreactor and data center together

The startup plans to flip the switch on its first reactor in the summer of 2026, CEO Matt Loszak said in a LinkedIn post.

POWER PEOPLE: A PPC25 Gold Sponsor Is Hiring In The Permian

Signal Power Group is looking for a Business Development Manager. Great firm to join, and if they find the right person quickly enough, I bet you'll meet them at the Horseshoe Arena September 29-30!

Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Raises $1.4B to Convert Bitcoin Miner into AI Hub

Galaxy Digital has secured $1.4 billion in debt financing to overhaul its Helios bitcoin mining site in Texas into a high-capacity data center for artificial intelligence workloads under a 15-year lease with CoreWeave.

Bitcoin Mining Facility: Texas Powers Up a Strategic 10 MW Site

This exciting development, a collaboration with energy and data-center developer Onmine, marks a significant milestone for the company and the broader crypto industry.

Big Tech, power grids take action to reign in surging demand

Large data center operators are implementing energy saving technologies that will impact U.S. power demand and load profiles.

Liberty Power Innovations Announced as Title Sponsor at 2025 Permian Power Connection Conference

Permian Power Connection is thrilled to announce Liberty Power Innovations (LPI, a subsidiary of Liberty Energy) as the Title Sponsor for the inaugural Permian Power Connection Conference, taking place September 29-30, 2025, at the Horseshoe Arena in Midland, Texas.

Why 2025 Is a Defining Year for Data Center Site Selection — and How to Capitalize on It

Post talks about why Texas is the “next wave” market.

Cool Graphic of Texas’ $33B Transmission Build-Out

I’m not quite what it all means, but the graphics are really cool!

Texas May Have to Shut Down Data Centers to Protect Its Energy Grid

We seem to have an article on this topic every week. Just goes to show that data centers need to be looking at creative power solutions like those available in the Permian.

Solaris Energy Infrastructure Announces the Acquisition of HVMVLV, a Specialty Provider of Power Control and Distribution Solutions

The deal internalizes key capabilities related to the distribution and voltage regulation of complex and mission-critical power loads. These capabilities expand Solaris’ portfolio and deliver customers a comprehensive turnkey solution designed to accelerate deployment and time to power.

AI Experts Return from China Stunned: The U.S. Grid Is So Weak, the Race May Already Be Over

“Everywhere we went, people treated energy availability as a given,” Rui Ma wrote on X after returning from a recent tour of China’s AI hubs. For American AI researchers, that’s almost unimaginable. In the U.S., surging AI demand is colliding with a fragile power grid, the kind of extreme bottleneck that Goldman Sachs warns could severely choke the industry’s growth.

1,000 Follower Milestone Reached By PPC In Just 4 Months, Underscoring Strong Industry Engagement With The Fast-Approaching Permian Power Connection Conference!

This week, Permian Power Connection hit 1,000 followers on LinkedIn. This word-of-mouth driven achievement only 4 months after our 1s post highlights incredible industry enthusiasm for our fast approaching inaugural conference next month! Thank you to everyone in the power community who is rallying around this new industry conference – we cannot do it without you and the participation of so many strong industry leaders is what is going to make it a great and productive conference for all involved this September 29-30. For industry insights and PPC conference news, check out our LinkedIn page if you aren’t watching it already…

Department of Energy Announces Initial Selections for New Reactor Pilot Program

Great to see two of our key sponsors for our upcoming conference on this DOE selection list in their new reactor pilot program! Congrats to our Platinum Sponsor Natura Resources and our Silver Sponsor Terrestrial Energy Inc. on their DOE selections. The place to talk about Texas SMRs is Permian Power Connection in Midland Sept. 29-30! Join leaders from Natura, Terrestrial and others to discuss the opportunity…

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