- The US Army received over 200 proposals and approved 20 for immediate execution
- Four military installations could soon host large data center campuses across America
- All proposed plants must produce their own electricity without drawing from local grids
The U.S. military is examining plans for new data center developments as it tries to avoid the community opposition that has increasingly confronted big tech companies.
Officials say future projects will involve direct engagement with residents and address concerns about power use, water use and financial impact.
The U.S. Army received more than 200 responses to a March 2026 call for ideas from private industry to upgrade its infrastructure through new contracting models and public-private partnerships.
Among the proposals received, approximately 120 were deemed viable, while approximately 20 have already entered various stages of execution.
Army officials are now exploring plans that could bring data center facilities to four military installations across the United States — potential sites 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 use, the Army says the proposed facilities must include independent power generation and plans for net-zero water use.
The Army is now holding discussions with residents, utilities and private sector partners before construction decisions are final.
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 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’re part of the communities that are there,” he said.
Brookings Institution senior fellow Darrell West argued that transparency remains critical because residents often want detailed information about water use, electricity supply, costs and expected noise levels.
Broader infrastructure plans extend beyond computing facilities
The Army’s strategic capital initiative is also examining proposals involving production 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 are already advanced, including a turboshaft engine modernization facility at Corpus Christi Army Depot and new energy production initiatives at Pine Bluff and McAlester facilities.
Army leaders are also evaluating proposals involving critical mineral processing and energy generation technologies.
According to Oliver, future power systems may involve geothermal resources, gas turbines or small modular nuclear reactors, depending on local requirements.
Long-term planning extends beyond building individual facilities and instead envisions a broader ecosystem combining military computing, commercial operations and dedicated power generation.
“Our data centers aren’t going to be just big buildings out in the middle of nowhere run by 10 people,” Oliver said.
The proposal reflects a growing recognition that AI tools, energy infrastructure and all major data centers increasingly depend on community acceptance as much as technical capability.
Via Defense One
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