NEW DEVELOPER ENTERS VIRGINIA DATA CENTER PORTFOLIO
Last week, CleanArc Data Centers broke ground on a new 1-gigawatt data center campus investment in Virginia, locating an hour northeast of Richmond. The $3 billion project, dubbed VA1, lands in Caroline County and will deliver the latest hyperscale-ready digital infrastructure to the state, while marking the company’s first data center development in the region. “Today marks an important milestone for CleanArc Data Centers and Northern Virginia,” said CleanArc Data Centers Founder and CEO James Trout. “This new, leading-edge campus reflects our commitment to delivering reliable, efficient and sustainable data center solutions while supporting the local economy and workforce.” CleanArc plans to introduce an initial 300 megawatts (MW) of capacity by the start of 2027, growing by an additional 300 MW up until 2035. The campus is designed to reduce light and noise pollution and will feature closed-loop cooling systems with minimal water usage required.
Photo courtesy of Castelion
LAUNCHING PROJECT RANGER
A new 1,000-acre solid rocket motor manufacturing facility project has selected Sandoval County, New Mexico, as a place to help strengthen the nation’s defense capabilities. The planned $100 million-plus investment from California-based defense manufacturer Castelion will produce solid rocket motors, conduct static tests and assemble components for finished rounds to the state. “After a highly competitive nationwide search, we chose New Mexico for its technical talent, regional infrastructure and history of scientific achievement,” said Castelion Co-founder and CFO Andrew Kreitz. “Project Ranger represents a critical step in restoring America’s capacity to produce the advanced systems our country needs. We’re proud to partner with a community with a long history of innovation that has powered some of our nation’s greatest leaps forward.” The state’s official release noted that the total investment into the facility is expected to increase over the next four years. Construction on the campus is expected to commence in early 2026.
Photo courtesy of First Solar/ Photo Works, Inc.
FINAL FORM REACHED IN GAFFNEY
Arizona-based solar technology manufacturer First Solar has plans to expand its South Carolina presence with a new production facility in the town known by many I-85 travelers as the place with the peach on the water tower. The company will invest $330 million in the construction of the new Gaffney site, located in Cherokee County, which allows for onshoring of final production processes for its Series 6 Plus modules. Thin film solar cells produced within First Solar’s global operations will arrive to this facility to be processed into complete modules. This move, bolstered by energy technology demands sparked by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will increase First Solar’s current annual nameplate capacity by 3.7 gigawatts (GW), for a total of 17.7GW by 2027. “The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the Administration’s trade policies boosted demand for American energy technology, requiring a timely, agile response that allows us to meet the moment,” said Mark Widmar, chief executive officer, First Solar. “We expect that this new facility will enable us to serve the U.S. market with technology that is compliant with the Act’s stringent provisions, within timelines that align with our customers’ objectives.”
Reports compiled and written by Alexis Elmore
