SpaceX Proposes $24 Billion Texas Supercomputer and Private Power Plant

SpaceX plans $24 billion AI supercomputer in Texas

SpaceX is proposing a $24 billion project to build an artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputer and a dedicated power plant in Starbase, Texas. The company, which is a significant holder of Bitcoin—a well-known digital currency—plans to operate the facility independently from the local electrical grid.

The massive development is intended for Starbase, a city in Cameron County that houses the company’s main rocket factory and launch site. The scale of the investment is roughly 17 times larger than the current value of SpaceX's Bitcoin portfolio.

Key project numbers

• The project has an estimated cost of $24 billion.
• SpaceX holds 18,712 Bitcoin, which is currently worth about $1.39 billion.
• The proposed power plant will use 35 turbines to generate 748 megawatts of electricity.
• SpaceX reached a valuation of approximately $1.25 trillion following its merger with xAI in February 2026.

Details from the official city notice

A public notice from the city describes the development as a "super-compute facility" and a gas-fired power plant. SpaceX intends to construct, own, and operate both parts of the project. To support the plan, the company is seeking a property tax break from the local government through the Cameron County Enterprise Zone.

SpaceX Bitcoin holdings and corporate background

As a company that holds Bitcoin on its balance sheet, SpaceX's financial moves are closely watched by the crypto industry. The company went public in June 2026, marking the largest initial public offering (IPO) in history. Earlier in 2026, Elon Musk merged his AI company, xAI, into SpaceX using a stock swap.

Potential political obstacles for the facility

The project may face challenges due to recent political changes in Texas. Gina Hinojosa won the state's governor race on November 3, replacing Greg Abbott. Hinojosa campaigned against the rapid expansion of energy-intensive AI data centers.

Before leaving office, the previous administration had already ordered a pause on new data centers connecting to the state’s electrical grid. While SpaceX plans to build its own power plant, the shifting political environment in Texas remains a factor for the project's approval.

Shift toward independent energy production

The move to build a private power plant follows a trend among major technology firms. Other companies, such as Anthropic, have also secured large-scale gas-fired generators to power their AI operations. Analysts suggest that tech companies are increasingly securing their own power sources rather than waiting for local utilities to meet the high energy demands of supercomputers.

Public hearing scheduled for December

The next major step for the project is a public hearing scheduled for December 9, 2026. The Starbase city commission will meet to discuss SpaceX’s request for a property tax abatement, which would reduce the company's tax burden for the new facility.

Sources

• CoinDesk