Babcock & Wilcox Targets Data Center Power Markets

The Akron-based company says it will focus on powering data centers in areas where the public supports them.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Data Centers

Babcock & Wilcox Targets Data Center Power Markets

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Would you support a large data center being built in your community?

Babcock & Wilcox said it will focus on powering data centers in areas where the public supports them, after voters pushed back against data center development in the Nov. 3 election. The company reported $291 million in third-quarter 2026 revenue, a 109% increase from the same quarter a year earlier.

Why it matters

Public resistance to data centers is shaping where developers can build, and the company's pipeline of more than $6 billion in projects depends on local acceptance. Its strong quarterly results suggest demand for power generation tied to data centers remains robust across the United States.

Babcock & Wilcox's BrightLoop technology can produce hydrogen, steam or syngas and separate carbon, according to the company. The company has discussed the technology with hyperscalers, and its Massillon BrightLoop demonstration project is planned to open in late 2027.

The players

Babcock & Wilcox

An Akron, Ohio-based energy technology company that builds power generation systems and is developing the BrightLoop technology for hydrogen and syngas production.

Base Electron

An independent power producer backed by Applied Digital that is partnering with Babcock & Wilcox on the North Dakota data center power project.

The details

Babcock & Wilcox is planning to generate power for a roughly $2.4 billion, 1.2-gigawatt data center project near Center, North Dakota, in partnership with Base Electron, an independent power producer backed by Applied Digital. The company's shares closed at $4.48 on the New York Stock Exchange on Nov. 10, up 69 cents (18%).

Nov. 3, 2026: Voters pushed back against data center development in the election.
Nov. 9, 2026: CEO spoke on the company's Q3 2026 earnings call.
Nov. 10, 2026: Shares closed at $4.48 on the New York Stock Exchange.
Late 2027: Planned opening of the Massillon BrightLoop project.

The Tech Race

Babcock & Wilcox is positioning its BrightLoop technology, which can produce hydrogen, steam or syngas and separate carbon, as a power source for the AI data center buildout. The move places the company in competition with other power providers seeking to supply the rapidly expanding computing infrastructure.

Residents in communities weighing data center projects may see more local votes and public input shape where new facilities are built. Electricity supply tied to these projects is a factor utility customers may eventually feel in their bills.

The takeaway

Community acceptance is becoming a deciding factor in where data centers and their power supply get built, not just engineering or cost. Companies that can show local support are likely to move projects forward faster than those that cannot.