SpaceX's $74B AI Campus Plan: Texas, Arizona Jobs, Power, Dates
SpaceX will spend over $74 billion on two AI supercomputing campuses in Texas and Arizona — but both sites still face key local votes on December 9.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Lars Plougmann from United States
STARBASE, Texas, Nov. 12 — SpaceX said on Thursday it plans to invest more than $74 billion in two artificial intelligence supercomputing campuses, one at its Starbase site in Texas and one in Cochise County, Arizona, one of the largest private AI computing bets announced this year.
The company, led by Elon Musk, said in a statement under its Building the Future initiative that it expects to spend more than $24 billion at Starbase and roughly $50 billion in Arizona. Its AI business generated more than half of the company’s revenue in the third quarter, SpaceX said, showing how far it has moved beyond rockets and Starlink internet since going public in June.
Key Takeaways
- SpaceX will spend more than $74 billion on two AI supercomputing campuses — over $24 billion in Texas and about $50 billion in Arizona.
- Texas will generate its own power from a gas-fired plant; Arizona could draw up to 6 gigawatts.
- The projects would support more than 8,500 construction jobs and over 1,500 permanent roles.
- Both sites face key local decisions on December 9 — a tax vote in Texas and a zoning hearing in Arizona.
| Campus | Investment | Scale | Jobs | Next decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starbase, Texas | $24bn+ | Gas plant; own power; 444 acres | 3,000+ construction; 500+ permanent | Tax vote, Dec. 9 |
| Cochise County, Arizona | ~$50bn | Up to 6 GW; nine buildings | 5,500 construction; 1,000 permanent | Zoning hearing, Dec. 9 |
How Much Is SpaceX Investing in Its Texas AI Campus?
SpaceX expects to spend more than $24 billion on the Starbase campus near the Port of Brownsville, where it proposes to build, own and operate a gas-fired power plant beside a supercomputing facility on about 444 acres. The plant would let the site generate its own electricity rather than wait years for a grid connection. SpaceX has sought an air permit for a 748-megawatt plant.
The Texas project has already generated more than 3,000 construction jobs and would support more than 500 permanent jobs once operational, the company said. The Starbase City Commission is due to consider a property tax abatement on December 9. Texas’s governor-elect, Gina Hinojosa, campaigned on curbing new data-centre construction.
What Is the SpaceX Arizona AI Campus in Cochise County?
The Arizona campus, the larger of the two, would cost roughly $50 billion and could draw up to 6 gigawatts at full build-out, in four phases across nine buildings. SpaceX said it would create about 5,500 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs, and that it is working with local electric cooperatives on power supply. The company said the project could cut bills for cooperative members by up to 20 percent.
The project still needs approval from Cochise County, which does not permit data centres by right. A petition with about 2,400 signatures has asked officials to deny the permit, and the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission will hear the application on December 9. SpaceX said the campus would use dry cooling, with no planned industrial groundwater use.
Why Is SpaceX Building Its Own AI Supercomputers?
SpaceX has expanded quickly into AI since it absorbed xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence lab, earlier this year, and it now leases computing capacity to customers including Google and Anthropic. Building its own campuses gives the company control over the two scarcest inputs for AI training — electricity and land — as grid connections can take years. The race to lock in power and sites has pushed demand for AI data-centre capacity to record levels, while its Starshield satellite arm supplies secure communications to government customers — a business under scrutiny over speed limits placed on Starshield terminals in Ukraine. Whether the campuses clear their December 9 tests will show how much local opposition can slow the AI build-out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is SpaceX investing in AI supercomputing campuses?
More than $74 billion: over $24 billion at Starbase, Texas, and roughly $50 billion in Cochise County, Arizona, the company said on November 12, 2026.
Where is SpaceX building its $50 billion AI campus in Arizona?
In Cochise County, near Willcox, on 747 acres along U.S. Highway 191. It would draw up to 6 gigawatts and still needs county zoning approval, with a hearing set for December 9.
When will the SpaceX Texas and Arizona AI campuses be approved?
Both sites face decisions on December 9. The Starbase City Commission will consider a property tax abatement, while the Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission will hear the Arizona application the same day.
