Big Plans, Small County: Texas Breaks Ground on a $15B Build

A $15 billion data center development has reached a groundbreaking milestone in Hudspeth County, Texas. Kaufman & Company and project partners reportedly broke ground on October 7, 2026, near the Desert Haven community, east of El Paso.

The project, known as Hueco Ranch, involves Boise-based ServerDomes Global, which is planning a 350 megawatt (MW) data center campus featuring 10 dome-shaped buildings.

Despite the groundbreaking, full-scale construction has not been confirmed. Hudspeth County officials were initially told construction could begin as early as 2027.

The rollout got off to a bumpy start. County Judge Joanna MacKenzie learned of the project through local rumors and visited the site on October 8, meeting with contractors and others involved.

In an October 9 letter to residents, MacKenzie outlined concerns about communication, infrastructure and local resources.

ServerDomes CEO David J. Keegan followed up with a public apology on October 11, acknowledging that residents should have been informed before the groundbreaking.

The company says it intends to improve communication and address community concerns as development progresses.

This won't be your typical warehouse-style data center.

According to Keegan, the proposed development includes 10 dome-shaped buildings, each measuring:

The project has also attracted attention over its size. Earlier reporting referenced 24,000 acres, but Keegan clarified that the data center development itself would occupy approximately 2,000 acres.

ServerDomes' official project information lists 350 MW of planned capacity, with an initial 80 MW targeted for operation within 16 months.

The company has not clearly established the starting point for that delivery timeline.

Project representatives anticipate approximately 800 construction jobs initially, with the broader construction program estimated to take four to five years.

Once operational, the facility is expected to support 200 to 300 permanent jobs.

The proposed $15 billion first-phase investment also includes community improvements, rather than solely data center construction.

According to ServerDomes, those commitments include:

ServerDomes says it will fund construction of the proposed facilities and associated vehicle purchases. Detailed budgets and construction schedules have not been disclosed.

The campus is planned to generate its own electricity, with each dome using behind-the-meter natural gas power. ServerDomes also says the design allows for solar generation within the development.

Water remains another major question.

Keegan says the facilities will use a closed-loop cooling system, requiring an initial water fill followed by minimal ongoing consumption. The company also proposes collecting rainwater and reusing wastewater for landscaping and other on-site purposes.

However, these water consumption claims have not been independently verified. Hudspeth County intends to seek supporting information about aquifer recharge and potential impacts on surrounding users.

The County also plans to bring in outside expertise to evaluate the project and its potential impacts.

Following community concerns, project managers began helping grade private roads in Desert Haven. The landowner is also donating caliche for road improvements where needed.

ServerDomes says it has directed a general contractor to urgently address roads that emergency vehicles cannot safely use.

Agreements covering County roads are still being worked out, with construction traffic and infrastructure impacts among the outstanding concerns.

The project is not requesting tax abatements from Hudspeth County. Its potential taxable value and resulting tax revenue have not been determined.

Keegan and members of the ServerDomes team plan to attend the October 27 Commissioners Court meeting to answer questions from local officials and residents.

MacKenzie has made clear that the County expects developers to respect residents, resources and applicable laws as the project moves forward.

If the planned 350 MW campus moves forward, the data centers won't be the only major construction scope. Behind-the-meter natural gas generation would bring additional electrical, mechanical and utility infrastructure requirements. The equipment specifications and procurement schedule remain undisclosed, but those packages could represent significant opportunities for specialist contractors.

Hudspeth County is sparsely populated, and the projected 800 construction jobs could create a significant workforce challenge. Contractors may need to draw workers from El Paso and beyond, bringing travel, accommodation and workforce logistics into the cost equation.

The October 7 groundbreaking is a milestone, but it doesn't establish that full-scale construction is underway. Road access, water impacts and power infrastructure remain important questions. The next major test will be whether the developers can turn their ambitious plans into a documented construction schedule.

🥾Want to advertise in TheJobWalk? Learn More🥾