Lambda Plans New Data Center at Oklahoma’s MidAmerica Industrial Park

Lambda announced plans on September 27, 2026 to build a new data center at MidAmerica Industrial Park in Mayes County, Oklahoma, a project the company said is expected to pay an estimated $500 million in taxes over the next 10 years based on current rates.

Projected Tax Revenue and Jobs

The project is expected to create up to 1,000 construction jobs and up to 100 permanent positions, according to the company’s announcement. The facility will be located in the south section of the industrial park and will sit within the Chouteau-Mazie Public School District tax boundary.

Chouteau Mayor Brenda Cunningham said the project would bring an estimated $500 million in tax revenue to the county over the next decade, funding she said would go toward supporting schools, public services, and local priorities. Mayes County Commissioner Steve Grossman said the investment would strengthen the local tax base and create new resources to support schools, infrastructure, and other community priorities. Chouteau-Mazie Public School Superintendent Josh Gwartney said the revenue would allow the district to invest in better facilities, competitive teacher salaries, advanced programs, and more career and technical education opportunities.

Ratepayer Protection and Resource Commitments

Lambda said that in compliance with Oklahoma’s Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act it will take full responsibility for the resources and infrastructure needed to operate the facility, including paying 100 percent of its energy costs. The company said it is designing the project to be a more flexible grid customer, with the ability to shift or reduce certain computing loads during periods of peak demand.

The facility will deploy closed-loop cooling technology, which Lambda said dramatically reduces water use compared with traditional data center cooling, and the company said it will optimize energy efficiency. The project is being built at the existing industrial park with infrastructure designed to minimize impacts on surrounding residential areas.

Governor Kevin Stitt said the commitments reflect the kind of responsible investment he wants to see in Oklahoma. “Lambda has committed to taking responsibility for the energy costs associated with its facility, ensuring those costs are not passed along to residential customers while generating hundreds of millions in tax revenue and economic growth right here in Oklahoma,” Stitt said. Oklahoma Department of Commerce CEO John Budd called Lambda’s decision to build in the state a vote of confidence in Oklahoma’s workforce, infrastructure, and business-friendly environment.

Grand River Dam Authority CEO Dan Sullivan said Lambda will fund the upfront infrastructure costs required to serve the project, ensuring those expenses are not passed on to other GRDA customers. Sullivan said the utility created a focused, comprehensive planning process when evaluating potential projects of this magnitude and has made the investments necessary over the past decade to be ready for projects of this scale.

The project follows Lambda’s September 14, 2026 announcement that it had signed the White House Ratepayer Protection Pledge. In that statement, the company said it supports ratepayer protection policies that require data center developers to pay for the power their facilities use, and that it supports expanding generation capacity, strengthening the electric grid, maintaining reliable service, and protecting ratepayers as demand for AI infrastructure grows.

Selection Process and Next Steps

MidAmerica selected Lambda from a range of potential partners based on the company’s approach to responsible development and building standards. David Stewart, CEO and a member of the Board of Trustees of MidAmerica Industrial Park, said MidAmerica and GRDA took a deliberate approach to finding the right partner. “Through what we call a reverse RFP, we started with the strengths of this site and looked for a developer whose plans would deliver lasting value to the region,” Stewart said. He said that as construction gets underway, the project is expected to create approximately 1,000 jobs and generate opportunities for local vendors, contractors, and suppliers.

Cloverleaf Infrastructure was selected by GRDA and MidAmerica to ready the Mayes County site for development by Lambda. Aaron Bilyeu, Cloverleaf’s chief development officer, said the work will be guided by the Cloverleaf Standard, which he described as the company’s commitment to developing critical infrastructure responsibly, transparently, and in partnership with the communities it serves.

Lambda Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Stephen Balaban said the company has been meeting with local leaders in Chouteau and Mayes County to understand their priorities and help shape its long-term investments in the community. Lambda CEO Michel Combes said the company’s responsibility is to ensure the project delivers value to Mayes County while respecting the community’s resources, infrastructure, and priorities.

Lambda and MidAmerica said that in the coming weeks they will continue meeting with local leaders and residents to listen and gather input to guide community investment, and that more information about the project timeline and its expected economic impact will be shared as planning progresses.