Fermi America, a Texas-based company co-founded by former U.S. Energy Secretary and former Texas Governor Rick Perry, has announced plans to build what it calls the largest integrated energy and data complex of its kind. The project, known as the “Hypergrid,” will combine nuclear, natural gas, and solar power to support large-scale energy production alongside next-generation artificial intelligence infrastructure. The initiative is being developed in partnership with Texas Tech University and is scheduled to launch on July 4.
Perry, who has long advocated for domestic energy expansion, used the announcement to emphasize America’s competitive lag in nuclear development. “China is building 22 nuclear reactors while the United States is building none,” he said, urging policymakers and industry leaders to accelerate investment. “We’re behind, and it is all hands on deck. We need to be doing everything in our power to win this race, because this is the race that really matters.”
Interest in new nuclear facilities has recently gained momentum following executive orders from former President Donald Trump. The directives aim to streamline approval processes for reactors and restructure the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The overhaul has drawn mixed reactions, with critics arguing it could place political goals ahead of safety and public health, while advocates suggest it could finally break years of stagnation in nuclear permitting. The administration also removed NRC commissioner Chris Hanson, a move that added to the political debate around the agency’s future role.
Scale and Scope of the Hypergrid
Fermi America envisions the Amarillo campus as a massive, multi-fuel energy hub with the capacity to deliver up to 11 gigawatts (GW) of combined nuclear, natural gas, and solar generation. That output would be enough to supply more than 8.2 million homes. The company expects 1 GW of capacity to be operational by late 2026, although details about financing and overall project costs have not yet been disclosed.
If completed as planned, the Hypergrid would become the largest nuclear power complex in the United States. The U.S. nuclear sector has struggled to bring new projects online, facing decades of delays, soaring budgets, and regulatory hurdles. The Vogtle expansion in Georgia, the most recent nuclear build in the country, cost more than $30 billion for two reactors, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Fermi has not said how it will avoid similar pitfalls, but the company maintains that its hybrid approach, with nuclear supported by gas and solar, provides a more balanced path forward.
The NRC confirmed it is reviewing Fermi’s applications, which will be made public soon. According to reporting by the Washington Post, the company has applied for four 1-GW nuclear reactors. Fermi has not confirmed those specifics but did say the overall development would extend across nearly 5,800 acres near Amarillo.
In addition to power generation, the site will be designed to house advanced AI data centers. The proximity to the Department of Energy’s Pantex Plant, the nation’s primary nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility, highlights the strategic importance of the location. Fermi said the siting decision reflects a deliberate choice to showcase the role of clean nuclear energy in securing both national energy capacity and cutting-edge technology development.
The campus will also benefit from direct access to some of the nation’s largest natural gas pipelines and sits above a major gas field. This advantage positions the Hypergrid to integrate flexible gas-fired generation as a complement to baseload nuclear and intermittent solar, ensuring a reliable energy mix for both residential supply and high-demand computing applications.
For the oil and gas industry, the implications are notable. Natural gas will play a central role in stabilizing the grid and supporting the nuclear fleet, further reinforcing gas’s role as a cornerstone of America’s energy transition. The project also creates new opportunities for upstream producers and midstream operators in the region, as the infrastructure required to support the Hypergrid will likely spur additional demand.
Despite its scale and ambition, Fermi America has not provided a target date for full completion. Industry observers remain cautious, pointing to the challenges that have dogged past nuclear projects. Still, the combination of nuclear, natural gas, solar, and AI presents a vision that aligns with growing calls for both energy security and digital infrastructure investment.
If successful, the Hypergrid could represent a turning point in how the U.S. builds and manages large-scale power projects. For oil and gas professionals, it serves as another reminder that natural gas remains a critical partner in America’s evolving energy mix, even as nuclear and advanced technologies gain renewed focus.
