Amarillo, TX · Carson County County · 35.396°N 101.543°W
Project Matador
Fermi America
Key facts
- Location
- Amarillo, TX, Carson County County
- Capacity
- —
- Powered by
- on_site_gas
- Announced
- 2025
- Last updated
Civic impact
Economics
- Land
- 5,769 acres
Energy & water
- Energy source
- Mixed
- Cooling
- Unknown
Initial generation: on-site natural gas. Fermi acquired 600MW+ of gas turbines in two deals (July 2025): 478MW from Firebird LNG/Siemens Energy (six SGT800 turbines + heat recovery steam generators + one SST600 steam turbine) and 135MW from GE 6B Frame units acquired from a New Jersey facility. TCEQ issued preliminary approval for up to 6GW of combined-cycle gas (November 2025); air permit secured February 2026 after ~279 public comments. Long-term plan adds four Westinghouse AP1000 reactors (~4.4GW nuclear baseload; COLA filed June 17 2025, NRC accepted two of three parts for review September 2025, Part 3 deadline December 31 2026, first reactor targeted 2031, all four by 2038) plus solar and battery storage. Fermi is also evaluating SMRs (MOU with Doosan Enerbility). Entire campus is behind-the-meter — private grid, no public utility offtake.
No confirmed water use figures published. Community opposition raised concerns about Ogallala Aquifer impacts from combined cooling demand of gas plants and data centers. Arid Texas Panhandle location heightens water supply risk.
Community sentiment
TCEQ air permit process (for 93 planned gas turbines) drew 279+ public comments, majority opposed. 63 contested case hearing requests filed before State Office of Administrative Hearings; 21 additional public meeting requests. Primary opposition group: Panhandle Taxpayers for Transparency. Key concerns: air quality (modeled 2,140 tpy CO and 1,591 tpy NOx), water demand, impacts on farmland and nearby cattle operations (Tyson Foods facility adjacent). Fermi bused in college students to a December 2025 public meeting, stoking further controversy.
Project Matador: Massive AI Data Center in Texas Panhandle Promises PollutionStatus history
- Proposed
Fermi America founded January 2025 by Rick Perry, Toby Neugebauer, and Griffin Perry. Project Matador announced on ~5,769-acre site in Carson County under 99-year lease with Texas Tech University System, adjacent to DOE Pantex Plant.
Rick Perry's AI power startup Fermi already has a $16 billion market cap—and zero revenue - Under construction
600MW+ natural gas turbines acquired across two deals (July 2025); COLA for four AP1000 reactors filed with NRC June 17 2025; NRC accepted COLA for review September 2025; TCEQ preliminary approval for first 6GW gas generation (November 2025); geotechnical work commenced on campus.
Fermi America and State of Texas Announce TCEQ Preliminary Approval for First 6GW Natural Gas Facilities
Location
Sources & data provenance
Reported: data based on credible news outlets or industry sources.
Last updated:
- Data Center DynamicsRetrieved:
- PR NewswireRetrieved:
- PR NewswireRetrieved:
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory CommissionRetrieved:
- ANS Nuclear NewswireRetrieved:
- Sierra Club TexasRetrieved:
- FortuneRetrieved:
- FortuneRetrieved:
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