{
  "story": {
    "slug": "ai-is-eyeing-the-slope",
    "headline": "ai is eyeing the slope",
    "deck": "A company wants to build one of America's biggest data centers in one of Alaska's most remote corners.",
    "url": "https://thedailyalaska.com/story/ai-is-eyeing-the-slope",
    "section": "Energy",
    "area": "Anchorage",
    "published_at": "2026-06-02T20:00:00+00:00",
    "updated_at": "2026-10-02T06:19:16.154836+00:00",
    "body_md": "A developer has proposed building one of the largest data centers in the country on Alaska's North Slope, a roughly 500 million dollar project that would cover about a square mile of land off the Dalton Highway, around 25 miles south of the region's main oil and gas infrastructure. The facility would run on its own natural gas power plant, fed by a newly built pipeline.\n\nBy some estimates, the facility could use more than double the natural gas that urban Alaska burns for electricity and heating combined. That consumption raises questions for Alaskans in Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley, and Fairbanks who are already watching tight Cook Inlet gas supplies and rising energy costs.\n\nThe proposal comes as Alaska draws growing interest for large AI and data center development. Developers cite cheap land, abundant natural gas, and a cold climate that can handle much of the cooling these facilities need without the massive water use common in warmer regions.\n\nThe U.S. Air Force has separately invited companies to build data centers on military land near Anchorage and Fairbanks, including Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Clear, and Eielson. A project of this scale on the North Slope could bring jobs to the region and new pressure to expand gas infrastructure there.\n\nThe state's public comment period on the preliminary decision for the North Slope project runs through June 15.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/economy/energy/2026-05-26/alaskas-north-slope-proposed-as-home-for-massive-ai-data-center",
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  "envelope": {
    "story_id": "9d47f5b4-5a40-46c0-816a-e169e71064cf",
    "slug": "ai-is-eyeing-the-slope",
    "summary": "A developer proposed a roughly 500 million dollar, one square mile data center on Alaska's North Slope, about 25 miles south of the main oil patch off the Dalton Highway, powered by its own natural gas plant and new pipeline. The state's public comment period runs through June 15.",
    "key_facts": [
      "Proposed data center would cost around 500 million dollars.",
      "Project would cover about one square mile off the Dalton Highway.",
      "Site sits roughly 25 miles south of the North Slope's main oil and gas infrastructure.",
      "Facility would be powered by its own natural gas plant fed by a new pipeline.",
      "Estimated gas use could exceed double what urban Alaska burns for power and heat combined.",
      "Public comment period on the proposal runs through June 15."
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "a": "About one square mile off the Dalton Highway, roughly 25 miles south of the main oil and gas infrastructure.",
        "q": "Where on the North Slope would the data center go?"
      },
      {
        "a": "Around 500 million dollars.",
        "q": "How much would the North Slope data center cost?"
      },
      {
        "a": "From its own natural gas power plant fed by a newly built pipeline.",
        "q": "How would the data center get electricity?"
      },
      {
        "a": "Public comment runs through June 15.",
        "q": "When can I comment on the data center proposal?"
      }
    ],
    "claims": [
      {
        "claim": "A developer has proposed a roughly 500 million dollar data center covering about a square mile on Alaska's North Slope.",
        "confidence": "sourced",
        "source_url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/economy/energy/2026-05-26/alaskas-north-slope-proposed-as-home-for-massive-ai-data-center",
        "source_label": "alaskapublic.org"
      },
      {
        "claim": "The facility would run on its own natural gas power plant fed by a newly built pipeline.",
        "confidence": "sourced",
        "source_url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/economy/energy/2026-05-26/alaskas-north-slope-proposed-as-home-for-massive-ai-data-center",
        "source_label": "alaskapublic.org"
      },
      {
        "claim": "By some estimates, the facility could use more than double the natural gas urban Alaska burns for electricity and heating combined.",
        "confidence": "reported",
        "source_url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/economy/energy/2026-05-26/alaskas-north-slope-proposed-as-home-for-massive-ai-data-center",
        "source_label": "alaskapublic.org"
      },
      {
        "claim": "The U.S. Air Force has invited companies to build data centers on military land near Anchorage and Fairbanks, including Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Clear, and Eielson.",
        "confidence": "reported",
        "source_url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/economy/energy/2026-05-26/alaskas-north-slope-proposed-as-home-for-massive-ai-data-center",
        "source_label": "alaskapublic.org"
      },
      {
        "claim": "The state's public comment period on the preliminary decision is open through June 15.",
        "confidence": "sourced",
        "source_url": "https://alaskapublic.org/news/economy/energy/2026-05-26/alaskas-north-slope-proposed-as-home-for-massive-ai-data-center",
        "source_label": "alaskapublic.org"
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    ],
    "locations": [
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        "area": "Alaska",
        "kind": "region",
        "name": "North Slope"
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        "kind": "road",
        "name": "Dalton Highway"
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        "kind": "region",
        "name": "Cook Inlet"
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        "area": "Anchorage",
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        "name": "Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson"
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      {
        "area": "Interior",
        "kind": "facility",
        "name": "Clear"
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    "organizations": [
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        "kind": "military",
        "name": "U.S. Air Force"
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    "event_dates": [
      {
        "date": "2026-06-15",
        "label": "Public comment period deadline"
      }
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    "story_status": "ongoing",
    "what_changed": null,
    "keywords": [
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      "dalton highway data center",
      "cook inlet gas supply",
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    ],
    "disclosure": "Produced with AI assistance, narrated with Slav Lund's voice clone with his consent, and reviewed by a person before publishing.",
    "generated_at": "2026-10-01T05:24:13.275+00:00",
    "reviewed_at": null,
    "updated_at": "2026-10-02T06:19:16.154836+00:00"
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