Core Scientific announced on Wednesday a multi-phase strategy to grow its Muskogee, Oklahoma campus to around 1.5 GW of gross power capacity, including about 1.0 GW of leasable infrastructure for high-density colocation.
The initiative includes an agreement to acquire Polaris DS LLC, which brings 440 MW of contracted power through Oklahoma Gas & Electric. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026 using existing liquidity, subject to customary conditions.
Core Scientific said the transaction will accelerate its expansion timeline, with an 82.5 MW facility already under construction and targeted for delivery in Q4 2027.
The company is also advancing grid expansion studies and behind-the-meter solutions, supported by approximately 250 acres of secured land for future capacity growth.
Shares of Core Scientific posted double-digit gains after market open on Wednesday, trading near the $25 mark following its Oklahoma expansion news.
AI data center market set for rapid expansion through next decade
The booming demand for generative AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing infrastructure has turned electricity into the new oil. According to an industry report by Grand View Research, AI data centers are set for massive expansion.
The global market, valued at about $147 billion in 2025, is forecast to exceed $810 billion by 2033, a compound annual growth rate of approximately 24%.
Companies capable of delivering large-scale power on timelines measured in quarters rather than years hold a serious competitive edge in the AI data center market.
Core Scientific is betting that its strategy, combining acquisitions, existing grid connections, and behind-the-meter generation, can scale rapidly. The Muskogee expansion marks the second use of this playbook, following a similar 1.5 GW buildout already underway in Pecos, Texas.
Adam Sullivan, Core Scientific’s chief executive, said the company’s Muskogee plan showcases a repeatable model that combines acquisitions with development and power strategies to deliver gigawatt-scale growth.
“As our second expansion applying this approach, we are demonstrating the scalability of our model while growing a strategically important campus to support a broad range of high-density compute deployments,” Sullivan said.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt pointed to recent behind-the-meter legislation as a factor in attracting this kind of development.
“Core Scientific’s expansion shows what’s possible when strong partnerships and business-friendly policy come together,” Stitt said.
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