Executive Summary
Evergy, the Kansas-based regulated utility, has announced plans to build a 910 MW large simple cycle gas turbine and accompanying battery storage projects to meet surging data center demand driven by AI infrastructure buildout. The filing represents one of the clearest signals yet that Midwest utilities are moving aggressively to capture hyperscale load growth, deploying dispatchable generation at scale to meet the reliability and capacity requirements AI workloads demand.
The Players
Evergy operates as a regulated utility serving Kansas and Missouri, with approximately 1.7 million customers. The company is responding to what it characterizes as unprecedented demand from data center developers seeking to build infrastructure for AI services in its service territory. While Evergy has not disclosed specific data center customers in the filing, the scale and speed of the capacity addition strongly suggests signed power purchase agreements or committed load from hyperscale operators.
The Numbers
The centerpiece is a 910 MW large simple cycle gas turbine — a significant capacity. Simple cycle units are designed for fast response and peaking duty, but at 910 MW, this asset will likely run at higher capacity factors to serve baseload data center demand. Evergy is also adding megawatt-scale battery storage projects (specific capacity not disclosed in available reporting), likely to provide grid services, renewable integration, and demand response capabilities.
No capital expenditure figure has been disclosed, but a 910 MW gas turbine project typically runs $700-900 million all-in, depending on site prep, interconnection, and gas infrastructure requirements. Battery storage could add another $100-200 million depending on duration and capacity.
So What — Actionable Intelligence
This is a major tell for power developers and investors. When a regulated utility files for a 910 MW gas turbine, they’re not speculating — they have load commitments in hand. Evergy’s move signals that Kansas is emerging as a viable data center market, likely driven by land availability, relatively low power costs, and proximity to fiber infrastructure.
For developers: if Evergy is building 910 MW of dispatchable capacity, there’s almost certainly more load in the interconnection queue than this single project can serve. Look for behind-the-meter opportunities in Kansas, particularly for natural gas generation or dual-fuel assets that can provide redundancy and backup power for hyperscale campuses.
For investors: this validates the thesis that gas turbines — not just renewables or nuclear — will be the workhorse of AI infrastructure power in the near term. Simple cycle units can be permitted, built, and commissioned in 24-36 months, which aligns with hyperscaler deployment timelines far better than SMRs or new nuclear.
For utilities and IPPs: watch how Evergy structures cost recovery. If they’re able to pass through costs via a data center tariff or special rate class, it sets a precedent for other Midwest utilities to follow.
Source: Reported by The Topeka Capital-Journal, August 16, 2026.
