Pacifico Energy Obtains Air Permit for GW Ranch Project in Texas

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) granted an air permit for Pacifico Energy’s GW Ranch project in West Texas: a private-grid power generation complex built for hyperscale data centers and next-generation AI. The approval covers 7.65 GW of natural gas-fired power generation, making it the largest air permit ever granted in the United States. Obtaining the TCEQ air permit authorizes construction and operation under state and federal air-quality requirements.

“We’re really excited to reach this precedent-setting milestone at GW Ranch,” said Nate Franklin, CEO of Pacifico Energy Group. “As Texas solidifies its role as a leading market for data center expansion, this 7.65 GW TCEQ air permit underscores our ability to deliver the scale, speed, and regulatory certainty that hyperscale and other large-load customers require.”

With this approval, Pacifico Energy validates its emissions-control strategy and leverages a significant regulatory milestone toward commercial operation. The permitting process is now complete, establishing GW Ranch as a partner-ready energy platform built to support multi-phase hyperscale demand with regulatory certainty and operational flexibility.

“Receiving TCEQ approval for the largest power project in the United States is a defining milestone for GW Ranch and clears a critical path for delivering power at a scale the market urgently needs,” said Constantyn Gieskes, Vice President of Project Development at Pacifico Energy. “With all site delineations complete, permits in-hand, and turbines secured, GW Ranch will provide customers with power in the first half of 2027 with a guaranteed pathway to scale to over 5 GW.”

GW Ranch uses a private grid that combines natural gas-fired turbines, solar, and battery storage to enable rapid AI and digital infrastructure growth without hampering the electricity grid or increasing energy costs for Texans. With rising electricity prices nationwide and large-scale data center loads pressuring regional grids, Pacifico Energy’s development is intentionally designed to protect ratepayers. The project obtained local support and focuses on sustainable development, driving economic growth and backing regional industries.

The project is located in Pecos County, TX, on over 8,000 acres of build-ready land primed for future expansion. It features more than 99.99% availability and multiple laterals for gas supply, including a 15-mile, 1 BCF/d direct pipeline to Waha for optionality. The GW Ranch’s total gross capacity will include:

• 7.65 GW of gas
• 1.8 GW of battery energy storage
• 750 MWac of solar

Data Center Buildout

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.

And in March, Baker Hughes signed an agreement with Frontier Infrastructure to deliver its technologies and resources to large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS), power generation, and data center projects. The partnership aims to accelerate the deployment of CCS projects and power solutions in the United States, satisfying the increased power demand in Wyoming, the Mountain West, and Texas.