PoliticsAlaska · July 29, 2026
31 square miles up for grabs
AIDEA is proposing to transfer more than 31 square miles of public land near Houston, Alaska for a data center and rail industrial park.
Daily Alaska staff · July 29, 2026
The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, known as AIDEA, is proposing to hand over more than 31 square miles of public land near Houston, Alaska for a new industrial park built around scalable data centers, a rail freight hub, and new power infrastructure along the Parks Highway. AIDEA says the project could bring construction jobs and help diversify the state's economy beyond oil and mining.
Residents in Houston, Wasilla, and across the Mat-Su Borough are raising concerns about the plan, pointing to trail access, water resources, and wildlife habitat on the land in question. The Houston mayor says the city was not consulted before the proposal became public, and the Mat-Su Borough currently has no specific permitting rules in place for a project like a data center campus.
Alaska has only eight data centers statewide right now, so the project would mark the first of its kind for the Mat-Su Valley. Public comment on the proposal is open through 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, through the Alaska Department of Natural Resources website.
In this story
Questions people ask
Where would the proposed data center and rail park be?
More than 31 square miles of public land near Houston, Alaska, along the Parks Highway about an hour from Anchorage.
Who wants to build the Houston data center?
AIDEA, Alaska's state economic development agency, says it could bring construction jobs and diversify the economy.
How can I comment on the proposed industrial park?
Public comment is open through 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 19, 2026, through the Alaska Department of Natural Resources website.
Did Houston officials know about this proposal?
No. The Houston mayor says the city was not consulted before the proposal became public.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- AIDEA proposes transferring more than 31 square miles of public land near Houston for a data center, rail, and power infrastructure park. · alaskasnewssource.com
- Alaska currently has only eight data centers statewide. · alaskasnewssource.com
- The Houston mayor says the city was not consulted before the proposal became public. · alaskasnewssource.com
- Public comment on the proposal is open through 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 19, 2026, through the Alaska Department of Natural Resources website. · alaskasnewssource.com
Produced with AI assistance, narrated with Slav Lund's voice clone with his consent, and reviewed by a person before publishing. How we use AI →