Anthropic and Nscale finalize a $45 billion, six-year agreement to deploy massive AI compute infrastructure at West Virginia's Monarch Compute Campus.
Anthropic and Nscale have finalized a reported $45 billion, six-year agreement for artificial intelligence computing capacity at the Monarch Compute Campus in Mason County, West Virginia. Under the arrangement, Anthropic will lease approximately 460 megawatts (MW) of capacity from Nscale to support its expanding demand for computing infrastructure and frontier AI services. The deal significantly strengthens the commercial viability of Nscale’s massive data center development in the region.
Nscale plans to develop a 1.35GW AI data center at the campus, which spans more than 2,250 acres. The broader development also includes a planned 2GW natural gas power plant, with the Financial Times reporting an estimated $69 billion cost for the overall project. The $45 billion figure pertains exclusively to Anthropic’s six-year computing agreement and does not represent construction costs. Separately, Nscale has identified more than $20 billion in planned capital investment for the site. Phase 1 is specifically designed to accommodate 1.35GW of AI computing capacity, with target delivery set for early 2028. The campus features a longer-term expansion pathway exceeding 8GW, positioning Monarch as a potential contender for one of America’s largest dedicated AI infrastructure developments.
Nscale acquired the Monarch site through its purchase of American Intelligence & Power Corporation in March 2026. Prior to this acquisition, the development was sponsored by Fidelis New Energy and 8090 Industries. The company has engineered the campus specifically for large-scale artificial intelligence workloads, ensuring it meets the rigorous operational demands of modern AI training and inference.
Energy generation is a foundational element of the Monarch Compute Campus. The facility will operate independently from the public grid, utilizing onsite power generation equipment supplied by Caterpillar. According to Nscale, the project represents the first state-certified AI microgrid in the United States. This self-sufficient power system is designed to scale alongside computing capacity as regional demand continues to grow.
The Anthropic agreement covers Nvidia’s next-generation Vera Rubin processors, which are expected to become available at the campus from late 2027. Beyond Anthropic, Nscale has already secured another major capacity arrangement, signing a letter of intent with Microsoft for up to 1.35GW. That deployment will utilize Nvidia Vera Rubin NVL72 systems and will roll out across multiple tranches beginning in late 2027, with Nscale responsible for constructing and operating the supporting AI data center infrastructure. Consequently, Monarch has attracted multiple major technology customers ahead of its full Phase 1 delivery, adding substantial demand to an already robust AI infrastructure pipeline.
Virginia’s data center expansion extends well beyond the Monarch Compute Campus. In Fredericksburg, Vantage Data Centers is currently developing its $2 billion VA4 campus, which will deliver 192MW of capacity across three data centers totaling nearly 929,000 square feet on an 82-acre site. Vantage expects to complete its first building in late 2027. The VA4 development underscores the accelerating demand for high-capacity digital infrastructure across Virginia and neighboring markets.
To minimize environmental impact, the campus will employ closed-loop cooling systems during operations, eliminating the need for municipal drinking water. Operational noise will be mitigated through enclosed generators, mufflers, berms, and sound barriers, though local concerns regarding construction noise and broader community impacts have emerged. An Ernst & Young (EY) assessment estimates the development will generate 2,090 jobs once fully operational, alongside projected annual GDP contributions of $395 million for Mason County. In response to community interests, Nscale recently announced a $500,000 investment in local STEM and skilled-trades education, aimed at modernizing school laboratories and workshops throughout Mason County.
The Anthropic agreement secures a major commercial anchor for the Monarch development while underscoring the rapidly escalating scale of infrastructure required to support frontier AI services. As the project advances toward its 2028 Phase 1 milestone, it stands as a clear indicator of the converging demands for computational power, energy independence, and regional economic development.