Compass Datacenters is expanding its Red Oak, Texas campus to include 10 buildings covering 2.6 million square feet, a development that company CEO Chris Crosby argues generates significant blue-collar employment and local economic activity beyond the artificial intelligence hardware inside. Crosby, a North Texas native, stated that the facility has not used water for cooling since it began operating, citing the scarcity of water in the region. The campus utilizes a closed-loop cooling system that recirculates coolant rather than continuously drawing water, a method Crosby described as essential for conserving local resources.
Access to the facility, located roughly 20 miles south of Dallas, requires extensive security measures. Fox News Digital reported that entering the site took approximately three months of approvals and involved passing through six layers of security. Visitors must wear personal protective equipment, and photography and recording devices are prohibited. Inside, the environment is notably quiet and clean, with rows of server racks surrounded by electrical and cooling systems. Crosby explained that the high level of security is intended to protect sensitive information and critical infrastructure from potential hacking or physical infiltration by entities targeting specific clients like banks or government agencies.
The economic impact of the campus extends to local employment and infrastructure. Approximately 600 people work for Compass at the site, while a Schneider Electric manufacturing facility on the campus employs about 300 additional workers. Since construction began in 2019, thousands of construction workers have been involved in the development. Crosby noted that the industry requires a wide array of skilled trades, including carpenters, welders, concrete workers, electricians, mechanics, and technicians. To address labor shortages, Compass partnered with Texas State Technical College to create MEI Pathways, a workforce development program housed in a $12.6 million training facility. This program offers a 12-week course designed to prepare candidates for jobs in the data center sector.
Compass has also engaged in community investments, including working with local officials on roads and sewer infrastructure. The company donated $15 million toward a new animal shelter after Ellis County's previous shelter arrangement ended. These local contributions occur against a backdrop of Texas grappling with how to manage the enormous electricity demands of the growing data center industry while maintaining grid reliability. Crosby emphasized that the debate over data centers should account for the jobs and tax revenue generated outside the server rooms, stating his frustration with what he called elitism regarding the industry's contribution to employment.