Core Scientific secures 1.5 GW expansion at Pecos site to accelerate AI data center transition

Core Scientific is scaling its Pecos, Texas campus to a gross capacity of 1.5 gigawatts, repositioning its bitcoin mining infrastructure for high-density AI colocation. The expansion includes 300 megawatts of newly contracted utility power and a scalable behind-the-meter energy solution to meet rising high-performance computing demand.

Core Scientific, a major provider of digital infrastructure for high-performance computing and cryptocurrency mining, has unveiled an aggressive expansion strategy for its Pecos, Texas campus. According to official disclosures, the company is scaling the site to approximately 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of gross power, translating to 1.0 GW of leasable capacity.

The initiative marks a pivot from the site's current 300 megawatt (MW) bitcoin mining operations toward sophisticated artificial intelligence infrastructure. Construction on the primary data hall has entered the vertical phase, with foundational footings complete and initial capacity anticipated by early 2027. This development is critical as it addresses the acute shortage of power-ready sites for large-scale AI workloads. By securing an incremental 300 MW through utility contracts and developing a bespoke behind-the-meter power solution,

Core Scientific is bypassing traditional grid bottlenecks. The acquisition of an additional 200 acres further solidifies the site's long-term scalability. This move impacts the broader technology and energy sectors, particularly within the ERCOT power region, where competition for high-capacity industrial load is intensifying. For investors and enterprise clients, this shift highlights the increasing value of legacy crypto mining sites as ready-made platforms for AI transformation.

The strategic use of behind-the-meter solutions offers a blueprint for rapid scaling in energy-constrained markets. As cloud service providers and AI developers seek specialized colocation environments, Core Scientific’s ability to control both land and power infrastructure provides a significant time-to-market advantage. This project reinforces the trend of digital asset firms diversifying their revenue streams toward the burgeoning high-density compute market, offering a hedge against cryptocurrency volatility while capitalizing on the generative AI infrastructure boom.