Pacifico Energy Unveils GW Ranch Project to Deliver 5 Gigawatts of Off-Grid Power for AI and Hyperscale Data Centers
Pacifico Energy has officially announced its ambitious GW Ranch project, a large-scale off-grid power generation campus designed to meet the rapidly growing electricity demands of artificial intelligence (AI), hyperscale data centers, and other power-intensive digital infrastructure. The project, which has been in development since early 2024, will be located on more than 8,000 acres in Pecos County, Texas, and aims to establish a new model for delivering highly reliable and scalable energy directly to data center operators.
The central promise of GW Ranch lies in its ability to provide 5 gigawatts (GW) of reliable, dedicated power, independent of the regional electricity grid. This will be achieved by combining high-efficiency natural gas turbines with 1.8 GW of advanced battery storage, enabling “five nines” of uptime—greater than 99.99% reliability. Unlike traditional data center projects, which rely heavily on interconnection with the electric grid, GW Ranch will operate fully off-grid, ensuring stability, predictability, and faster deployment.
Solving the Data Center Energy Bottleneck
With the exponential rise of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data-driven applications, the demand for power-hungry data centers has surged to unprecedented levels. Yet, connecting new facilities to existing power grids has become one of the biggest bottlenecks in the industry. Grid interconnection queues are growing, and regulatory approvals can stretch out over several years, delaying projects that are urgently needed to support AI innovation.
GW Ranch is designed specifically to bypass these grid challenges. By operating independently from the ERCOT grid, the project eliminates dependence on transmission approvals or interconnection timelines. Pacifico Energy estimates the campus will deliver its first 1 GW of capacity by 2028, with a full ramp-up to 5 GW by 2030, ensuring customers can access large-scale energy faster than through conventional means.
“GW Ranch isn’t just about scale—it’s about certainty,” explained Constantyn Gieskes, Vice President at Pacifico Energy. “Every aspect of the project has been engineered to remove the pain points data center developers face today. By going off-grid and partnering closely with local officials, we can deliver not only power but also reliability, sustainability, and speed.”
Partnership with Local Leaders and Community Support
A project of this magnitude requires alignment with local stakeholders, and Pacifico Energy has emphasized collaboration from the start. The company has initiated permitting with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), ensuring all environmental requirements are met. Local officials have also welcomed the project for its potential to diversify the regional economy and strengthen the tax base.
“Pecos County’s ongoing work to diversify the economy directly aligns with GW Ranch,” said Remie Ramos, Pecos County Economic Development Director. “The minimal impact of an off-grid data center, combined with significant benefits such as new jobs and tax revenue, makes this project a strong fit for our region. It conserves water, avoids stress on local infrastructure, and positions Pecos County as a hub for next-generation technology.”
Joe Shuster, Pecos County Judge, echoed this sentiment, adding: “GW Ranch is a direct benefit to Pecos County’s growth, while meeting the nation’s rapidly increasing demand for digital infrastructure. We are excited to work with Pacifico Energy to bring this off-grid solution to our county.”
Project Highlights
The scale and design of GW Ranch set it apart as one of the most advanced energy projects in the United States:
- 5 GW of dedicated off-grid generation capacity, powered primarily by efficient natural gas turbines.
- 1.8 GW of battery energy storage, enabling load balancing and continuous uptime.
- N+2 redundancy with dual independent gas pipelines, ensuring resiliency and reliability.
- Greater than 99.99% uptime, delivering mission-critical stability for AI workloads.
- Scalable modular design, with phased buildout: 1 GW online in 2028 and full 5 GW capacity by 2030.
- 8,000+ acres of developable land, designed to accommodate future technologies as they become commercially viable.
- Independent of ERCOT, ensuring no effect on consumer electricity prices or grid stability.
Built for AI and Hyperscale Infrastructure
Artificial intelligence training models and hyperscale data centers consume enormous amounts of power. Current grid-connected projects often struggle to align with the time-sensitive demands of AI firms that need power quickly to keep up with innovation cycles. GW Ranch offers a solution that matches the scale, speed, and certainty required by these industries.
By removing reliance on grid interconnection and focusing on modular, expandable development, Pacifico Energy ensures its customers can ramp up operations predictably. This not only benefits technology companies but also cements the United States’ position as a leader in AI development and deployment.
Economic Impact for West Texas
Beyond its role in powering the digital economy, GW Ranch is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits to the West Texas region. The project will create thousands of construction jobs during its buildout phase, and generate long-term local tax revenue that supports schools, infrastructure, and community services.
By establishing new demand for natural gas production, GW Ranch also integrates with Texas’s traditional energy sector, ensuring continued relevance and economic vitality for the region’s existing industries. The influx of investment is expected to strengthen Pecos County’s role as a key contributor to the state’s energy and technology landscape.
Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility
Pacifico Energy has emphasized that sustainability is a core pillar of GW Ranch. The project has been designed to minimize environmental impacts while maximizing efficiency:
- Off-grid design ensures the project does not stress ERCOT’s power system or drive up consumer prices.
- No external water requirements, easing pressure on local water supplies in a region where resources are limited.
- Best available emissions controls applied to natural gas turbines to reduce air impacts.
- Thoughtful site planning to minimize visual, noise, and air quality effects.
- Future-ready infrastructure, capable of integrating renewable and emerging technologies as they mature.
By combining advanced engineering, environmental responsibility, and community partnership, Pacifico Energy aims to set a new standard for sustainable hyperscale energy development.
A Blueprint for the Future of Energy and AI
The GW Ranch project highlights a paradigm shift in how power is developed and delivered. Rather than depending on traditional grid systems—often constrained by regulatory bottlenecks—Pacifico Energy is pioneering a model where large-scale, reliable energy is generated directly for industries that need it most.
As AI, cloud computing, and digital applications continue to expand, projects like GW Ranch will become essential to ensuring America maintains its technological leadership. With construction on track to deliver the first gigawatt by 2028, GW Ranch is poised to become a cornerstone of both the Texas economy and the global AI revolution.
“Every part of GW Ranch is built around certainty, reliability, and scalability,” concluded Gieskes. “For our customers, this means access to power when they need it, at the scale they require, and with the confidence that comes from working with local communities and regulators. This is the future of energy for AI.”
