Denser Racks and Grid Delays Force an Infrastructure Rethink for the Data Center Industry
As grid connections are delayed, some operators turn to on-site generation. As racks grow denser, others upgrade electrical systems
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 16, 2026 – Grid delays in Texas pushed one artificial intelligence infrastructure company to generate its own electricity. AI infrastructure firm Crusoe constructed a 300-megawatt gas turbine plant to supplement utility service at its Abilene data center campus.
The plant supplements limited utility power while Crusoe waits for additional grid capacity, Chief Data Center Officer Chris Dolan said Wednesday. The company is serving the first 1.2 gigawatts of the campus through a combination of grid electricity and power generated at the site.
