California’s long-awaited high-speed rail project may be being repositioned as a data center corridor, with revenue from the infrastructure seen as a way to help fund a project that has struggled to secure enough public money.
Why It Matters
The publicly funded high-speed rail project aims to carry passengers between Los Angeles and San Francisco at speeds of up to 220 mph, but it has faced years of delays, funding gaps and escalating costs. Approved by voters in 2008 with an expected 2020 completion date, the project remains unfinished.
What To Know
“The Authority is advancing an asset commercialization strategy to develop energy and technology projects along the high-speed rail right-of-way and on surplus land,” a 2026 revised draft business plan from the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) read.
“By leveraging state-owned land for commercial development such as solar farms, battery storage, data centers, and fiber optic and transmission lines, the Authority can create new business income sources before operations, while also benefiting communities along the corridor.”
The document went on to say that analysis “revealed several complementary opportunities, particularly in areas such as renewable energy and technology infrastructure. For example, solar farms and data centers could leverage high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission and technology corridors, creating a multiplier effect on investment returns and operational efficiency.”…