As hyperscalers push deeper into AI and cloud workloads, power availability is becoming a binding constraint. NextEra Energy’s collaboration with Exxon Mobil on a proposed 1.2-gigawatt data center campus signals a shift in how large-scale digital infrastructure may be powered: not by generation alone, but by tightly integrated natural gas supply, transmission access, and carbon capture infrastructure.
While no hyperscaler has yet signed on, the project highlights how future data center hubs are likely to form at the intersection of gas-fired generation, CO₂ transport networks, and regional transmission capacity, particularly along the US Gulf Coast and Southeast.
Why It Matters
● Data center power demand is reshaping infrastructure planning
Hyperscale AI facilities require gigawatt-scale, always-on power. This is pushing developers beyond traditional renewables-only models toward gas-backed solutions capable of supporting continuous load.
● Gas paired with carbon capture is emerging as a bridge strategy
The proposed project combines large-scale gas generation with CO₂ transport infrastructure, positioning carbon capture as a mechanism to balance reliability with emissions constraints.
● Infrastructure location now matters as much as generation
Access to transmission pipelines, proximity to CO₂ networks, and available industrial land are becoming decisive factors in where next-generation data centers can realistically be built.
● The Gulf Coast and Southeast are becoming digital infrastructure hubs
Dense gas transmission systems, existing power plants, and mature carbon infrastructure give the region a structural advantage for energy-intensive facilities.
What the Map Shows
The Rextag Energy DataLink map illustrates the infrastructure stack supporting a potential gigawatt-scale data center development:
● Gas-fired power generation assets
Large natural gas power plants are shown across the Gulf Coast and Southeast, highlighting regions already capable of supporting high-load industrial demand.
● Natural gas transmission pipelines (operational)
Major transmission systems including Transco, TETCO, Florida Gas Transmission, and Texas Southeastern illustrate how fuel supply can be delivered reliably at scale.
● CO₂ pipeline network
Denbury’s CO₂ pipeline system across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi shows how captured emissions could be transported for sequestration, enabling CCUS-linked power generation.
● Infrastructure convergence zones
Together, the layers reveal where gas supply, power generation, and carbon transport intersect, defining realistic locations for hyperscale data center campuses.
A Deeper Dive with DataLink
Using Rextag Energy DataLink, users can:
● Identify regions where gas transmission, power plants, and CO₂ pipelines overlap
● Evaluate site feasibility for high-load data centers based on fuel and infrastructure access
● Trace how gas-fired generation connects to regional transmission corridors
● Assess CCUS readiness by mapping proximity to CO₂ transport networks
● Compare Gulf Coast and Southeast corridors for future digital infrastructure development
