No project in Merkel Town, but 3 nearby
Who decides here: the Town Council of Merkel Town votes on zoning. The Taylor County may review big projects too.
Nearby (within 15 miles)
Crusoe 900 MW AI campus for Microsoft (Abilene)
Abilene, Taylor County
for Microsoft
🕒 March 27, 2026: Crusoe announced a 900-megawatt expansion in Abilene for Microsoft, with its own on-site…
Built & runningabout 14 miles awayStargate AI data center campus (Lancium Clean Campus, Abilene)
Abilene, Taylor County
800 acres · for Oracle for OpenAI
🕒 May 2026: Buildings 3 and 4 began operating.
Proposedabout 14 miles awayPowerPlay AI and Sharon AI gas-powered data center (near Abilene)
Unincorporated Taylor County, Taylor County
🕒 July 2026: PowerPlay AI and Sharon AI announced the 400 MW joint venture.
Reported in the news, not confirmed yet
What you can do
- Get told first.
We'll email you if anything changes in Merkel Town. - Go to council meetings.
Anyone can speak. Big projects usually need a public hearing. - Ask questions in writing.
Use our checklist.
🔔 Get told first
⚡ Your electric company
Depending on where you live in Merkel Town: Coleman County Electric Co-op, Inc. (not available) or AEP Texas North Company (company) or Taylor Electric Co-op Inc. (co-op (owned by its members)).
In much of Texas you can pick who sells you power, but this company owns the power lines.
Big data centers need a lot of power. Who pays for new power lines depends on state rules. See the rules in Texas.