SpaceX Plans $74 Billion in AI Supercomputing Campuses
The two planned campuses in Texas and Arizona would be among the company's largest investments tied to its AI business.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Data Centers
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SpaceX said on November 12 that it plans to invest more than $74 billion in two AI supercomputing campuses, including over $24 billion at its Starbase site in Texas and about $50 billion in Cochise County, Arizona. AI contributed more than half of SpaceX revenue in the third quarter.
Why it matters
The scale of the investment signals how central AI computing infrastructure has become to SpaceX's business, and it raises the question of how such large facilities will be powered and permitted across the United States. The Arizona campus still needs county approval, so its path forward remains open.
The Starbase facility sits on roughly 444 acres and will generate its own power from an on-site gas-fired plant rather than draw from the public grid, while the campus will use dry cooling with no industrial groundwater. The Arizona campus's power and cooling figures have not been detailed in the announcement.
The players
SpaceX
SpaceX is a private American aerospace and technology company founded by Elon Musk that builds rockets, spacecraft and satellite internet services.
The details
SpaceX will build the Starbase campus in Texas on about 444 acres, using an on-site gas-fired plant for power and dry cooling that avoids industrial groundwater use. The company is also working with local electric cooperatives on regional grid upgrades, which are expected to cut members' bills by up to 20%.
Timeline
November 12: SpaceX announces plans for the $74 billion AI campus investment.
Third quarter: AI contributes more than half of SpaceX revenue.
December: Hearing on the Arizona campus permit petition.
The Tech Race
The plan follows the broader industry pattern of AI firms building dedicated compute campuses with self-generated power rather than relying solely on the public grid. It places SpaceX among companies racing to secure the energy and land needed for large-scale AI computing.
Regional electric cooperatives plan grid upgrades that could lower members' bills by up to 20%, a direct effect on household power costs near the sites. The Arizona campus is projected to create about 5,500 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs if approved.
The takeaway
Large AI facilities are reshaping regional energy planning, so local grid and permitting decisions now affect ordinary ratepayers as much as the companies building the data centers. Watch how the Arizona approval process treats the self-powered design.
What happens next
A county hearing on the Arizona campus permit petition is scheduled for December.
Further reading
For more on the infrastructure behind this build-out, see Data Centers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Metal.
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