New Era Helium JV Secures Land for AI Data Center Campus in Permian Basin

New Era Helium has secured 235 acres in Ector County, Texas, for a large-scale AI and HPC campus. The site will feature advanced energy systems, cooling technologies, and carbon capture capabilities. The joint venture has also signed an exclusive letter of intent for an additional 203 contiguous acres, expanding the site to 438 acres. The location is strategically positioned near fiber optic cable, natural gas transmission lines, and CO₂ pipeline infrastructure.

New Era Helium, Inc. (Nasdaq: NEHC), a leading exploration and production platform in the Permian Basin, has announced the acquisition of 235 acres in Ector County, Texas, for the development of a large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) campus. The joint venture, Texas Critical Data Centers LLC (TCDC), a 50/50 partnership between New Era Helium and Sharon AI, Inc., has closed the deal with Grow Odessa [1].

The site, located near the City of Odessa, is strategically positioned to leverage existing infrastructure, including fiber optic cable, multiple large intrastate natural gas transmission lines, and CO₂ pipeline infrastructure. TCDC plans to develop a campus that can scale beyond 1 GW to meet the surging demand for AI and GPU infrastructure. The facility will integrate advanced energy systems, liquid cooling technologies, and potential carbon capture and utilization (CCUS) technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact [1].

In addition to the 235-acre acquisition, TCDC has signed an exclusive letter of intent (LOI) with Grow Odessa for an additional 203 contiguous acres, expanding the site to 438 acres. The expansion will enable TCDC to maintain favorable Ector County zoning regulations, facilitating faster development and increased flexibility [1].

E. Will Gray II, CEO of New Era Helium, Inc., commented, "Closing on this site marks a key milestone in our strategy to align Permian Basin energy assets with the explosive growth in AI and HPC demand. It advances our long-term vision to transform these resources into critical digital infrastructure, creating a high-impact, future-ready platform that will deliver scalable growth and meaningful value for shareholders" [1].

New Era Helium, Inc. controls over 137,000 acres in Southeast New Mexico, with more than 1.5 Bcf of proved and probable helium reserves sourced alongside natural gas production. Through its joint venture, Texas Critical Data Centers, LLC, NEHC is capturing multi-sector growth across helium, power, and data infrastructure [1].

References:
[1] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250729354856/en/New-Era-Heliums-JV-Closes-on-235-Acre-AI-Data-Center-Site-in-Permian-Basin-With-Option-to-Expand-to-438-Acres-in-Total-as-Buildout-Accelerates