ICE detention facility owner is now developing AI 'man camps'
What's the story
As the demand for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers grows, developers are turning to temporary villages, or "man camps," to house the hundreds or thousands of workers needed. These camps were originally used as housing for men in remote oil fields. Now, they're being repurposed to provide living accommodations for those working on AI data center projects.
Camp amenities
Man camps equipped with basic amenities
The man camps are equipped with basic amenities to make the stay of workers as comfortable as possible. For instance, a Bitcoin mining facility in rural Dickens County, Texas, is being converted into a 1.6GW data center. Its workers are currently living in gray housing units with access to a gym, laundromat, game rooms and cafeteria that serves steaks on demand.
Business expansion
Target Hospitality sees major growth opportunity
Target Hospitality, a company that specializes in building and operating these man camps, has signed contracts worth $132 million for the Dickens County camp. This facility could eventually accommodate over 1,000 workers. Troy Schrenk, Target's Chief Commercial Officer, sees this as a major growth opportunity in the US data center construction boom. He called it, "the largest, most actionable pipeline I've ever seen."
Controversies
Controversies surrounding Target Hospitality's other facility
Target Hospitality also owns the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas, where families detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are held. However, the court filings have alleged that the center's food has had worms and mold, with children suffering due to lack of accommodation for allergies and special diets. Despite these controversies, Target remains focused on its role in the US data center construction boom.