Air Force AI data center land offer at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER)
Also called: JBER AI Data Center Site
The Air Force wants private companies to build AI data centers on unused land at JBER and two Interior bases, using a long-term lease. At JBER it offered five sites. Chugach Electric says it does not have enough gas now to power a large data center. Anchorage's new data center rules likely do not apply on the base.
Where things stand: The Air Force offered 5 sites (about 60 to 200 acres each) for private data centers. No company picked yet.
🕒 Latest update (June 29, 2026): Proposals were due (date as reported by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner).
What we know
- 📍 WhereFive sites on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson; exact sites not public, Anchorage, Anchorage Municipality
- 🏢 CompanyU.S. Department of the Air Force (land owner; developer not chosen)
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromThe Air Force says the sites lack enough power and would need a new hookup to Chugach Electric. Chugach says it lacks gas for a large data center now.
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Has the Air Force picked any company to lease land for a data center? 🙋 I'll find out
- Where would the power come from, given the local gas shortage? 🙋 I'll find out
- Would Anchorage's data center rules (AO 2026-27) apply to sites on the base? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- April 10, 2026The Air Force asked companies for proposals to lease about 4,700 acres at JBER, Eielson and Clear for private AI data centers (solicitation AFCEC-26-R-0006).
- June 29, 2026Proposals were due (date as reported by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner).
Local votes and rules
📜 Data center rules
The Assembly voted 10-2 to add rules for big data centers (20 megawatts or more) before any were proposed. They are allowed only in business and industrial zones, need a special permit (conditional use) with a public hearing, and must show the power company, water and sewer can handle them.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- The military wants to host data centers in Alaska, raising questions about whether there's enough gas to power them · Anchorage Daily News · May 5, 2026
- Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson place lookup · OpenStreetMap Nominatim · Oct 8, 2026
See something wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.