Fluor Corporation has taken a significant step forward in a major data center development project in north central Kentucky, the company announced recently. The Irving, Texas-based contractor has secured a limited notice to proceed with TeraWulf, the Easton, Maryland-based developer spearheading the project.
The agreement involves Fluor providing master planning and preconstruction services for a 480-megawatt (MW) data center that will transform a dormant aluminum smelter site. TeraWulf plans to invest between $3 billion and $4 billion into the site, which spans more than 250 buildable acres in Hawesville, Kentucky. According to the developer, the campus will utilize existing industrial infrastructure and leverage 480 MW of available power for its operations. The project is expected to be completed by the second half of 2027.
According to a February announcement by TeraWulf, the site’s proximity to major Midwest metropolitan areas, within a 300-mile radius, offers strategic advantages such as low-latency connectivity.
Fluor emphasized the significance of securing the project as part of its broader strategy to expand in the growing data center construction market. "TeraWulf values Fluor’s ability to deliver quality and safety without sacrificing speed", stated John Palmer, senior vice president for advanced technologies at Fluor. "Our world class data center team is ready to support this strategic project through disciplined, end-to-end project delivery."
The limited notice to proceed allows Fluor to begin early engineering work on the project. The contractor’s North American Data Center Execution Hub, based in Greenville, South Carolina, will lead efforts on this initiative.
Fluor has identified data center construction as a key driver of growth, aligning with trends highlighted in recent earnings calls. CEO Jim Breuer has also noted increasing prospects for power-related infrastructure, including nuclear projects, and predicted a substantial increase in new project awards this year compared to 2025.
As the project progresses, Fluor's involvement reflects a commitment to meeting the rising demand for advanced data center infrastructure while supporting TeraWulf’s ambitious goals for the Kentucky campus.
