Executive Summary

A $366 million data center project, dubbed “Project Longhorn – Building One,” has been filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for Cedar Creek, Bastrop County, Texas. The 498,165 sq ft facility is the first building in what is reportedly a larger campus that AI lab Anthropic is in talks to lease. The project is supposedly supported by a proposed 2,842-acre gas-fired generation facility—with 710 MW of site-rated redundant power from simple-cycle turbines supporting 490 MW of IT capacity—developed by Pacifico Energy, with Black Chamber Partners as the data center developer. Involved parties have not officially confirmed this. Construction is set to begin November 30, 2026, with completion by January 2028, proceeding despite Governor Greg Abbott’s September halt on new data center permits pending an ERCOT audit.

The Players

Black Chamber Partners is a private equity-backed data center developer founded in 2019, focused on build-to-suit powered shells for hyperscalers, typically in Northern Virginia. This is their first major Texas project—a notable geographic expansion for a Virginia-centric developer.

Pacifico Energy is the energy arm of Pacifico Group, based in San Juan, California, with interests in both renewable and fossil fuel projects. Earlier in 2026, it secured a 7.65 GW air permit for its 5 GW GW Ranch project in West Texas—making it one of the largest proposed gas generation developers in the state. Pacifico is the power provider and likely the project’s most important partner, given that power is the binding constraint.

Anthropic is the AI lab reportedly in talks to lease the campus. This would be its second major Texas-linked power deal in this series and its first significant U.S. physical infrastructure footprint outside of its Amazon relationship. Neither Anthropic, Black Chamber, nor Pacifico responded to requests for comment.

The Numbers

The first building is $366 million for 498,165 sq ft, implying a construction cost of roughly $735 per square foot—reasonable for a powered shell with substantial MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) infrastructure.

So What?

Developers are proceeding despite Abbott’s permit halt. The article explicitly notes that the September halt on new data center permits (pending an ERCOT audit, due December 2026) has not stopped this filing. This is a calculated bet: Black Chamber and Pacifico believe the audit will clear projects like theirs, or that behind-the-meter generation exempts them from the grid connection review. This is a test case for regulatory risk in Texas.

What Should You Do With This?

If you are a data center developer: Your value proposition is not the building—it is the speed to power. Partner with a gas developer early or acquire your own generation capability. The developers who control power will control the market.

If you are a gas turbine supplier (GE Vernova, Mitsubishi, Siemens): simple-cycle orders are surging. Projects are all competing for the same turbine slots. Your order book is your leverage. Prioritize customers that can move fast and pay premiums.

If you are an investor: watch for confirmation of Anthropic’s lease. If Anthropic signs, it validates the entire Bastrop County cluster and likely triggers a land rush. Also watch Pacifico Energy—its 5 GW GW Ranch project and this 710 MW campus make it one of the largest private gas developers in Texas. And watch Black Chamber Partners—this is its first major project outside Northern Virginia, and its success or failure will determine whether it becomes a national developer.

Source: Data Center Dynamics, October 9, 2026