May 27, 2026 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
A new 25MW AI data center campus is planned for McMinnville in Warren County. Known as Hixson Data Center, the facility will span 96,065 square feet (8,925 square meters) across two levels and is being purpose-built for high-density AI workloads, including support for Nvidia’s GB200 NVL72 platform. The project is scheduled for completion in Q1 2028. The developer is currently seeking financing and aims to secure a single tenant for the site’s full 25MW of IT capacity. According to Hixson’s website, the campus is located on industrially zoned land near major transportation corridors and a railroad spur.
According to the project’s website, the site is already owned by the developer, and agreements have been signed with Bloom Energy to supply 30MW of on-site Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) power. SOFC systems generate electricity from natural gas or hydrogen without combustion, enabling low or zero CO₂ emissions. The facility will also include diesel backup generators and a 25MW battery energy storage system. With this setup, the developer states the data center will be grid-independent and not constrained by utility connection timelines.
The project will also incorporate direct-to-chip cooling using coolant distribution units, alongside chilled water air handling units, hot aisle containment systems, and economizer heat exchangers. According to Hixson’s website, the developer selected Tennessee due to its lack of state personal income tax, competitive franchise and excise tax rates, a pro-business regulatory environment, and lower land and construction costs compared with major data center hubs such as Northern Virginia.
