GridFree AI, a Houston-based company specializing in gas-powered infrastructure for data centers, has announced its first grid-independent site, South Dallas One.
Located in Hill County, approximately an hour south of DFW Airport, South Dallas One is designed to support high-density AI workloads.
The site is part of GridFree AI’s South Dallas Cluster, a planned three-site campus with a combined gross power capacity of nearly 5 GW. Each site is expected to deliver more than 1.5 GW of power.
The South Dallas Cluster is designed to meet the increasing energy demands of AI data centers while ensuring energy resilience and facilitating faster deployment timelines.
GridFree has engaged real estate firm Newmark as the exclusive advisor and marketer for South Dallas One. Goldman Sachs Group is co-leading the financing for the Texas project, according to Bloomberg,
Evolving Energy Strategies for Data Centers
As data centers face increasing power constraints, the industry is shifting from being passive utility customers to active energy planners.
Efforts to address these challenges include more efficient chipsets, improved battery energy storage, and various ‘behind-the-meter’ strategies, where utilities are supplemented by alternative energy solutions.
GridFree AI is among the companies working to alleviate pressure on public power systems. Its grid-independent infrastructure is designed specifically for the demands of modern data centers.
By leveraging US-produced natural gas, GridFree’s model operates independently of local electrical grids, avoiding strain on public systems and mitigating increases in local electricity prices.
The company states that its infrastructure can be delivered within 24 months from lease signing, significantly accelerating the time-to-power compared to traditional grid-connected developments. Additionally, it provides industrial-grade chilled water cooling to support high-density compute workloads without depleting local water supplies.
This approach enables hyperscalers and cloud providers to expand capacity without contributing to rising electricity costs or infrastructure stress in surrounding communities.
“South Dallas One represents the future of AI-ready infrastructure: fast to deploy, resilient by design, and insulated from the grid constraints holding back the industry,” said GridFree AI CEO Ralph Alexander.
Scaling AI Infrastructure in Texas
Texas continues to establish itself as a major hub for data center development, highlighted by its role in the $500 billion Stargate project, which includes three campuses across Abilene, Shackelford County, and Milam County.
The state’s growing prominence in the data center sector was underscored at the inaugural Data Center World Power conference in San Antonio this fall. Organizers focused the agenda on power availability, build speed, and community impacts, positioning Texas at the center of industry discussions.
VoltaGrid’s Dave Bell provided market data that illustrated why developers are increasingly turning to Texas for large-scale projects.
“Texas is 15% of all the data center connectivity in megawatts in the United States,” he said, adding that planned growth in the state accounts for around 24% of projects in the pipeline – more than Virginia.
“In terms of future projections, Texas is expected to see between 20 and 40 GW of additional data center load by 2035,” Bell said. “He contrasted that with Virginia, which he placed in the ‘five to 10 GW’ range over the same horizon.”
This growth trajectory aligns with GridFree’s expansion strategy. Adam Doneger, executive vice chairman at Newmark, which is advising GridFree on the South Dallas One project, noted the increasing demand for infrastructure that can deliver both speed and reliability.
“GridFree’s Power Foundry offering hits all three,” he said. “South Dallas One is one of the most compelling AI-ready development opportunities in the country, and we’re proud to bring it to market.”
