Abilene, Texas, Stargate, and Destiny

Have you heard of Abilene, Texas? Maybe not, and to be honest, neither had I prior to my research on Stargate and AI. This project originally broke ground in June 2024, and is located about two and a half hours west of Dallas. After watching a simple 20-minute video tour on YouTube, it reminds me of Mayberry from The Andy Griffith Show, but slightly more distressed. This is a town that really needs a fresh start. It’s often described by real estate agents as quiet and slow, with not much to do or any nightlife – a place for those who like a calm life.

This Stargate announcement is especially big new for the Abilene (a 107-square-mile town) the residents who are ready for change. Especially since  its commercial real estate market, has usually been weaker than in other parts of the country, even with new homes being built. Its commercial real estate and housing markets will be in high demand as the Stargate project continues to near completion. Even though the city’s economy is steady (with an average family income of about $62,720 in 2023 and a 3% unemployment rate in April 2025), A project the size of Stargate – a $500 billion-plus investment in infrastructure – is no doubt set to completely change Abilene! It will bring many new jobs, a need for more housing, and a demand for businesses to support this growing community. This could lead to growth similar to what Silicon Valley experienced because of tech.

This massive data center is designed to provide 1.2 gigawatts of power—enough electricity for about 750,000 homes! Stargate has also promises to be “Net Zero” for carbon emissions by 2030. Which is an optimistic goal for these tech giants. Especially since Abilene is a city traditionally focused on oil and gas. In a related event, two federal buildings in Abilene—the Social Security Administration facility and the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) office—were both closed in February by the General Services Administration (GSA), a U.S. government agency that manages federal property. The full impact of this decision and how it’s going to affect Abilene’s real estate development is a story that will progressively develop.

There are many notable figures helping make Stargate a reality.  Oracle, an important partner, is providing the powerful cloud computing system and large computer resources that OpenAI needs. Softbank is a major early investor, putting in a lot of money to make Stargate happen. Also, Jony Ive, the former Apple design chief . Sam Altman on a mysterious new AI device. While not directly involved in Stargate’s buildings, they’ve hinted at exciting future developments that were “announced but not quite announced,” meaning details were kept vague about these new technologies.

Huge projects like Stargate and the fast speed of data center development make us ask important questions about their real impacts, especially on local towns and the environment. As we continue this series, we will look deeper into these very real-world effects, exploring the challenges and opportunities that come with AI’s growing physical presence while also keeping a close eye on Abilene.