NextEra Energy Resources expects it will develop at least 15 GW and as much as 30 GW in data center power supply hubs by 2035, according to an investor presentation on Monday.
As part of that effort, NextEra Energy Resources — a NextEra Energy unit — and Basin Electric Power Cooperative are considering jointly developing a 1,450-MW combined-cycle gas-fired power plant in North Dakota to serve a potential data center complex, the company and wholesale cooperative utility said Monday.
In October, NextEra and Basin Electric applied to the Southwest Power Pool’s fast-track interconnection study process to evaluate interconnection and transmission requirements for the project, they said.
"This project, developed through the Large Load Commercial Program, creates the framework needed to serve new, high-demand energy users, like data centers, while insulating existing cooperative members from significant cost increases," Basin Electric CEO and General Manager Todd Brickhouse said in the press release.
Separately, NextEra Energy Resources partnered with gas producer company Comstock Resources in July to build up to about 8 GW in gas-fired generation to serve data centers in Central Texas. The companies are negotiating on a deal with a “major hyperscaler,” according to NextEra’s presentation.
Currently, NextEra’s gas-fired generation pipeline totals about 20 GW in 11 states, according to the presentation.
Separately, NextEra has agreed to buy Symmetry Energy Solutions, a natural gas supply company, from Energy Capital Partners. NextEra expects the deal will close in the first quarter next year.
“As demand for energy infrastructure grows — driven, in part, by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) — the ability to efficiently move gas is more critical than ever,” NextEra said.
Symmetry has about 5,500 large commercial and industrial customers and 80,000 residential and small customers in 34 states, according to NextEra.
