MPLX Provides Natural Gas for Power Generation Facilities, Data Centers in Texas

Under a recently signed a letter of intent (LOI), MPLX will supply natural gas to MARA Holdings’ integrated power generation facilities and data center campuses in West Texas. The natural gas supply will be delivered from MPLX’s Delaware Basin-based processing plants, then utilized in MARA’s planned gas-fired electricity generation facilities to fulfill the region’s energy and computing requirements.

“This collaboration will create additional in-basin demand in the Delaware Basin and enhance our natural gas value chain with improved power reliability, benefiting existing producer-customers,” said Maryann Mannen, President and Chief Executive Officer, MPLX.

The power generation facilities and data centers will be constructed near natural gas processing plants in the Delaware Basin, with an initial 400-MW capacity and plans to upscale to 1.5 GW in the future. MPLX’s natural gas will power the electricity generating stations, data center campuses, and the company’s additional West Texas operations, improving reliability for MPLX and its producer-customers.

“Collaborating with MPLX allows us to leverage lower cost local natural gas resources and build the foundation for high-performance, efficient data center campuses,” said Fred Thiel, MARA's Chairman and CEO. “Our integrated approach provides MARA with the flexibility to optimize power usage, monetize excess generation, and support the region's transformation into a hub for digital infrastructure. As the project scales, we anticipate transitioning from dynamic mining loads to advanced AI/HPC workloads, maximizing value and optionality for all stakeholders.”

According to the LOI, MARA will own and operate the power generation and data center facilities, while MPLX’s natural gas supply and electricity falls under a tolling agreement.

Texas’ Data Center Buildout

In August 2025, Pacifico Energy unveiled the GW Ranch project in Pecos County, TX, an off-grid power complex designed to support hyperscale data centers and advanced AI. The project, in development since 2024, is located on over 8,000 acres and generates 5 MW of power with high-efficiency gas turbines and battery storage. Currently, GW Ranch initiated permitting with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, meets environmental regulatory requirements, and obtained support from local officials.

The off-grid strategy eliminates grid reliability issues and enables speed-to-deployment with direct control over energy supply, with 99.999% reliability for digital infrastructure operators. Specifically, the project includes:

• 5 GW of off-grid capacity driven by natural gas
• 1.8 GW of energy storage
• N+2 redundancy and dual independent gas pipelines provide 99.99% uptime
• Modularity and scalable buildout: 1 GW in 2028, 5 GW in 2030
• No impact on consumer prices or ERCOT reliability
• Future-ready site and design allow the installation of emerging technologies upon commercial viability

In addition to bringing new jobs and investments to West Texas, the GW Ranch leverages sustainability by operating independently of the electricity grid and using no external water sources to ease supply stress. It also includes emissions controls and a site layout that minimizes noise, air quality, environmental, and visual impacts. GW Ranch skips interconnection backlogs and permitting delays, enabling data center operators to launch and upscale with reliable timelines.

In early June 2025, Baker Hughes was awarded a contract to deliver 16 NovaLT gas turbines to power Frontier Infrastructure Holdings’ data center projects in Wyoming and Texas—the turbines will provide up to 270 MW of power. The award also includes associated equipment, including gears and BRUSH Power Generation four-pole generators to power dedicated energy islands at Frontier’s behind-the-meter power generation sites.