TexAmericas Center and Potentia Development are moving forward with an ambitious project that could place the Texarkana region at the center of America’s rapidly growing artificial intelligence and data infrastructure economy.
The two organizations announced the advancement of Project Big Pine, a planned 500-acre, campus-style development located within TexAmericas Center in Bowie County. Designed for hyperscale data centers, AI operations, and other power-intensive industrial users, the project carries an estimated investment of $3.5 billion and is expected to create approximately 120 permanent jobs when fully operational.
Project Big Pine is being developed to meet one of the biggest challenges facing today’s technology and industrial sectors: access to reliable power delivered quickly. As demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and advanced manufacturing continues to surge, companies are increasingly seeking locations that can provide both immediate operational readiness and room for long-term expansion.
What sets Project Big Pine apart is its innovative energy strategy. The development is planned around a behind-the-meter prime power system supported by battery storage. This approach is intended to allow future tenants to begin operations faster by reducing dependence on traditional utility construction timelines, while still maintaining the ability to connect to the broader electrical grid for future expansion.
The site is already progressing through utility studies and interconnection processes with Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), part of the American Electric Power network. A 345-kilovolt transmission line runs adjacent to the property, offering significant long-term electrical capacity.
Developers say they are targeting an energization timeline of 24 to 30 months—a competitive advantage in an industry where access to power often determines where companies invest.
In addition to its electrical infrastructure, Project Big Pine offers several critical resources essential to mission-critical operations. These include abundant natural gas, access to regional water supplies capable of supporting large-scale industrial demand, and high-capacity fiber connectivity necessary for data-intensive and latency-sensitive operations.
The project also benefits from a robust package of economic incentives, including Foreign Trade Zone designation, Opportunity Zone status, New Markets Tax Credit eligibility, Texas Enterprise Zone incentives, and the Texas Large Data Center Sales and Use Tax Exemption. The site is also exempt from municipal property taxes and Freeport taxes, further enhancing its appeal to prospective tenants.
TexAmericas Center’s unique role as the sole local permitting authority for its property provides another major advantage. By streamlining approvals and reducing regulatory hurdles, the organization can often cut 12 to 18 months from the traditional development timeline.
Regional leaders believe Project Big Pine has the potential to become one of the most significant economic development opportunities in recent memory, further strengthening TexAmericas Center’s reputation as one of the nation’s top industrial parks.
For six consecutive years, Business Facilities magazine has ranked TexAmericas Center among the top 10 industrial parks in the United States, including a No. 5 national ranking in 2025.
If realized at full scale, Project Big Pine would not only bring billions in investment to Bowie County but also help establish Texarkana as a strategic destination for the next generation of technology, energy, and advanced manufacturing industries.
