en.Wedoany.com Reported - U.S. energy infrastructure company Stak Energy plans to build a large-scale data center on Alaska's North Slope, investing $500 million to specifically support large-scale AI cloud computing operations. The project will cover one square mile of remote area along the Dalton Highway, slightly smaller than New York's Central Park, and will consist of multiple buildings. The data center can generate up to 3 gigawatts of electricity, more than seven times the total electricity consumption of all Alaskan households, comparable in scale to some of the largest proposed data centers in the contiguous 48 states.
Stak Energy, headquartered in Alaska, is a private energy infrastructure company. According to the Alaska Beacon, the company stated that the project "marks a significant milestone in positioning Alaska as a hub for scalable energy solutions in the U.S., and is a meaningful step toward creating opportunities, jobs, and revenue." Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy (Republican), who has been promoting data center development in the state, noted that Alaska's low energy costs, cold climate, and planned infrastructure investments make it an ideal location for data centers. The state government is advancing natural gas pipeline and fiber optic infrastructure projects to support the infrastructure needed for large-scale data center development.
Not all local residents support the plan. In April last year, the Anchorage City Council passed an ordinance with a 10-to-2 vote, banning new data centers in "residential areas" to proactively address the data center construction boom. The proposed data center will use natural gas transported via a new pipeline as fuel. According to the proposal's estimates, the project's fuel consumption could exceed twice the total fuel used for heating and power generation in Alaskan urban households and businesses.
Stak noted that a "key design advantage" of the North Slope data center is the region's average annual temperature of 12 degrees Fahrenheit. This condition allows the company to use air for cooling without relying on water, reducing water usage by over 90%. Energy experts believe Stak's application is very detailed, but there are issues with the natural gas supply source, as existing infrastructure for transporting gas to the market is very limited, and the company has not yet secured a natural gas supply. Another challenge is the speed at which the company can acquire natural gas-powered turbines. Growing demand for these turbines in Alaska has led to a backlog of up to seven years. Stak plans to begin operations in 2028.
The company has not disclosed the specific funding sources for the data center but previously stated it is raising funds from Anchorage-based company McKinley Alaska Private Investment. Stak Energy submitted a lease application to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources in November, and with no other bidders, the department is moving forward with the leasing process. The company will still need to complete additional permits to build a gravel pad, raising the power plant and computer systems at least five feet off the ground, to advance the project.
