Data center activity in Northeast Texas
There is significant data center activity in Northeast Texas north of I-20. While the Dallas-Fort Worth “Silicon Prairie” has traditionally seen the most development, several massive “hyperscale” projects have recently broken ground or been announced in more rural parts of the region.
The most notable developments in the area include:
### **Sulphur Springs (Hopkins County)**
This is currently the most significant data center project in the region north of I-20.
* **The Matrix Data Center Campus:** This massive project by MSB Global Services broke ground in early 2025. It is planned as a **3 GW hyperscale campus** sitting on nearly 1,700 acres.
* **Timeline:** The first 100 MW building is scheduled for delivery in **March 2026**, with plans to add a new 100 MW facility every month thereafter.
* **Tech Focus:** The site is specifically designed for AI infrastructure (like NVIDIA GB300 GPUs) and is intended to be a net-zero facility using geothermal energy, solar power, and natural gas with carbon capture.
### **Sherman (Grayson County)**
While primarily known for semiconductor manufacturing, this area is seeing a “halo effect” of tech infrastructure.
* **Texas Instruments & GlobalWafers:** The multibillion-dollar “megafab” complexes here (some under construction through 2026) are driving significant upgrades to the regional power grid and fiber connectivity, which typically precedes further data center expansion.
### **Regional Infrastructure Trends**
* **Broadband & Middle-Mile Projects:** The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) has been overseeing “middle-mile” broadband projects in **Gregg, Harrison, and Upshur counties**. These projects are designed to create the high-speed fiber backbone required to support future data center locations in the Piney Woods area.
* **Grid Proximity:** Many new Texas data centers are being “co-located” with energy sources. Because Northeast Texas has a high density of natural gas resources and power generation plants, it is becoming an attractive alternative to the saturated DFW market.
### **Summary Table: Notable Projects North of I-20**
| Project Name | Location | Capacity / Investment | Status (as of 2026) |
| — | — | — | — |
| **Matrix Campus** | Sulphur Springs | 3 GW / $18B (Est.) | Under Construction; Opening March 2026 |
| **TI Megafab** | Sherman | $30B+ Investment | Phased Construction (2025–2026) |
| **Hicks Field Rd** | N. Fort Worth | $2.1B / 250k sq. ft. | Construction starting Jan 2026 |
| **Project Temple** | Temple / Central | 300 MW | Under Construction; Opening 2027 |
**Note:** Many of these projects are being built “behind the meter,” meaning they are partnering directly with energy providers to avoid straining the local public grid—a major topic of discussion in Texas as of 2026.
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