‘GOIN’ TO WEST MEMPHIS‘
Google has confirmed the company is behind a planned 580-acre data center campus in eastern Arkansas to be located in West Memphis, a part of the greater Memphis metro area. Site documents show the company anticipates the construction of five data center facilities at the campus. Utility provider Entergy will partner with Google on the project, as the duo have submitted a special rate contract for approval from the Arkansas Public Service Commission. The company is additionally set to bring new solar and battery storage resources online, in addition to exploring load flexibility to reduce stress on the local grid during peak hours. In support of Google’s investment, the city council signed off on a 30-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement, as long as the company delivers at least 50 new jobs. The PILOT will cover the construction of a $1 billion, 900,000-sq.-ft. facility, scaling to up to $10 billion based on economic, business and market conditions.
WON’T BLUFF ON FLUFF
Last week, Georgia-Pacific announced an $800 million modernization project was on the way to its Alabama River Cellulose mill in Monroe County. Representative of the nation’s largest softwood pulp mill, the fresh investment into the facility aims to upgrade, expand and streamline production operations. Construction will start before the end of the year to replace the facility’s manufacturing equipment, which will bring an additional production capacity of 300 tons per day. “This project not only strengthens one of Monroe County’s cornerstone employers, but it also ensures that Alabama will continue to play a leading role in supplying the materials that go into essential everyday products used around the world,” said Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. This facility produces nearly 1 million tons of fluff and market pulp annually. The material is essential to everyday products including, diapers, tissues and paper plates. A new pulp dyer and a power boiler will also be integrated into the project. Once the modernization is complete in 2027, the Alabama plant will be one of the most technological advanced mills of its kind, according to the company.
Photo courtesy of Davie Shipbuilding
ON THE DEFENSE
The Gulf Copper shipyard located in Galveston, Texas, has been selected as the home of a new $1 billion American Icebreaker Factory from Davie Defense. The company, which is the U.S. branch of Canada-based Davie Shipbuilding, said this investment falls in line with the Trump Administration’s urge for enhanced shipbuilding capacity. The future site will feature six assembly bays, two shiplifts and a reclaimed waterfront apron, developed with the help of Florida-based shipyard design specialist Pearlson. Davie plans to produce Arctic Security Cutters, which will be used by the U.S. Coast Guard if a contract is secured. The Coast Guard received $3.5 billion through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to support medium icebreaker production, as the nation currently only has three polar icebreakers in operation. If the company moves forward with the Coast Guard, it anticipates its first Arctic Security Cutter would be complete in a little over two years. Once operational, the project will create 2,000 direct jobs and support 7,000 indirect jobs in the region.
Reports compiled and written by Alexis Elmore
