THE DEVELOPMENT
Power visibility is improving, but the two projects carry different levels of commercial evidence.
New Era Energy & Digital announced a 20-year agreement covering the first phase of its Texas Critical Data Center near Odessa. Power may come from Vistra’s adjacent gas plant or other sources, including the Texas grid. The project targets 200–207 MW of availability in the third quarter of 2027, but the announcement identifies no tenant and requires New Era to arrange substantial financial guarantees.
Kodiak Gas Services announced a six-year agreement to supply approximately 76 MW of onsite natural-gas generation. Its rollout is targeted between October 2026 and March 2027. Kodiak reports that the data-center operator has a contract with a large cloud or AI customer with an investment-grade credit rating and that a graphics-chip designer guarantees the lease, although none of those parties is named.
PREMIA VIEW
Begin commercial planning now. Stage major network spending against proof.
Both projects merit attention from fiber providers. Kodiak’s earlier rollout and reported customer backing make it the stronger near-term diligence candidate. New Era can support route planning and customer discussions, but major construction should wait for a signed tenant, financing, and satisfaction of the power agreement’s delivery conditions.
WHAT TO VERIFY
Three questions should determine when fiber capital moves.
- 01Who pays?
Confirm a signed connectivity contract and protections if the data-center opening slips.
- 02When can the site open?
Verify required permits, equipment delivery, fuel arrangements, and a tested power-on date.
- 03How much should be built?
Stage the fiber plan against the customer’s initial capacity needs instead of the full announced buildout.
PERMITTING WATCH
Texas permitting remains a live variable.
On September 21, Governor Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to halt data-center permits pending an ERCOT audit. New Era says it already holds construction permits. The available releases do not establish how the directive affects either project, so permit status should be confirmed directly before construction commitments are made.
FULL REPORT
Review the original Premia Industry News brief.
The attached two-page report includes the deal comparison, Premia assessment, diligence questions, and source references.