Wire · operational-macro
Developer proposes hyperscale data center at former Eastern Kentucky steel mill
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Fusion42 · 23 July 2026 · Fusion42 review
Rubix Data Centers, a Barcelona-based subsidiary, proposes a $8-12 billion hyperscale data centre at a former Kentucky steel mill site, requiring 2 gigawatts of electricity (over 10% of state summer output) and 55 million gallons of water annually, whilst promising 200 permanent jobs at $125k average salary and tens of millions in local property tax revenue.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Cloud Infrastructure, and 2 sources have reported it between 22 Jul 2026 and 23 Jul 2026.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
If you're selling power generation, water treatment, or industrial construction services in Kentucky and beyond, hyperscale data centres are now the primary customer for available utility capacity - a single facility here consumes what used to go to entire regions. The infrastructure vendors who win these deals will become essential to every data centre build in the US.
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2 sources · first reported 22 Jul 2026 · latest 23 Jul 2026
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