Amp Z Champion Data Center (Project LufKin / former Southland Paper Mill)

Status

Proposed / in development

Developer / parties

Amp Z Champion Data Center Holdings LLC (Amp Energy affiliate per DCD); site option from Verdant Industries entities (per Lufkin Daily News citing county property records)

Location

Lufkin area (east of city, US Hwy 103 / former Southland–Abitibi mill), Angelina County

Size

About 1,041 acres under purchase option at the former Southland Paper Mill (Lufkin Daily News citing county property records, via DCD). Company website claims (via DCD, Feb 2026): 55 MW grid connection now, 175 MW in 2026, 1.1 GW grid by 2028, plus 1 GW self-generation by 2029 for ~2.1 GW ultimate — company figures, not county-verified

Investment

More than $1B projected investment (per Lufkin Daily News, Oct 10 2026, news; not a county figure)

Reported benefits

City of Lufkin FAQ (developer estimates relayed by city): about 30 permanent and 500 construction jobs; closed-loop cooling with estimated treated water use about 500 gallons/day after initial fill (company/city FAQ, not a permit limit)

Concerns / impacts

Water use is the leading public concern (Lufkin Daily News); county says it has limited regulatory authority outside city limits without an abatement (news)

Last verified

2026-10-13

Power

• News report Grid capacity plus 1 GW self-generation: Company claims 175 MW grid-connected in 2026 rising to 1.1 GW by 2028, plus 1 GW of self-generation by 2029 (DCD). datacenterdynamics.com ↗

Power and water projects tied to this data center: on-site or dedicated generation, utility and grid capacity deals, substations, water supply, reclaimed water and wastewater permits. Each item is labeled by source type.