Texas Critical Data Centers LLC (TCDC), a joint venture between New Era Helium Inc (NASDAQ:NEHC) and Sharon AI, has signed a non-binding letter of intent with a global provider of high-performance cloud services to develop a 250 megawatt data centre campus in the Permian Basin.
The proposed facility, planned for Ector County, Texas, would be purpose-built to support artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.
The agreement includes the acquisition of land and access to up to 250 megawatts of behind-the-meter electricity—power generated and used on-site rather than transmitted through the grid.
The customer, which is not named, is expanding its AI infrastructure and has earmarked the West Texas location as a potential site for its US operations.
TCDC was established in 2024 to develop data infrastructure that can meet the growing demand for cloud-based graphics processing and compute capacity.
The company said its proposed site would incorporate advanced energy and cooling technologies to reduce environmental impact while maintaining high operational efficiency.
Due diligence on the 235-acre plot is underway and is expected to be completed by July 10, 2025. Upcoming project milestones include updates on natural gas supply and progress on connecting to the wider electricity grid.
E. Will Gray II, CEO of New Era, said: “This agreement marks a pivotal step in aligning our energy platform with the surging demand for AI infrastructure.
"By combining our strategically located assets in the Permian Basin with a next-gen AI partner, we’re unlocking a powerful opportunity to participate in the digital buildout of tomorrow’s economy right at the intersection of energy and innovation.”
New Era Helium, listed on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker "NEHC," describes itself as a next-generation exploration and production company focused on unlocking helium and natural gas resources in the Permian Basin.