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Monarch Compute Campus

Nscale / Microsoft — Mason County, WV — 2 GW (Phase 1)

  • Developer / Operator: Nscale
  • End Customer: Microsoft
  • Location: Mason County, West Virginia
  • Total Planned Capacity: 8 GW at full build-out; 2 GW in initial phase
  • Grid Strategy: Off-grid; no public plans to connect to grid
  • Status: Site preparation underway; DEP construction permit application filed April 2026; operations expected H2 2027

Background

The Monarch Compute Campus has a winding origin story. It was first announced in August 2023 by Fidelis New Energy alongside the Mountaineer GigaSystem hydrogen production facility, with then-Governor Jim Justice in attendance. At the time, the project was described as a hydrogen-powered 1 GW data center campus with $5 billion in potential investment. In January 2026, Fidelis relaunched the project under a new entity, American Intelligence & Power Corporation (AIP Corp), with 8090 Industries as a founding strategic partner and LuminArx Capital Management as a financial backer. The 2026 relaunch reframed Monarch as an 8 GW natural gas microgrid platform, with no mention of the hydrogen or carbon sequestration elements from the original announcement.

Then in March 2026, at NVIDIA GTC, the project changed hands again. Nscale announced it had acquired AIP Corp and the Monarch campus, with plans to build "one of the world's largest AI Factories." Alongside the acquisition, Nscale signed a letter of intent with Microsoft to provide 1.35 GW of AI compute capacity at the campus, using NVIDIA's next-generation Vera Rubin NVL72 GPUs. DCD reported that Nscale plans to operate the campus "under a long-term framework that includes an initial multi-year compute services term alongside a long-term data center lease structure."

AIP Corp's former CEO Daniel Shapiro joined Nscale as chief power and energy officer. The Fidelis team also joined Nscale's "Energy & Power" subsidiary. Governor Patrick Morrisey praised the deal, citing West Virginia's microgrid legislation (HB 2014) and the state's "50 by 50" strategy to reach 50 GW of power capacity by 2050.

Power Strategy

The campus will generate all of its own power on site using natural gas reciprocating generators and battery storage, with no grid connection. West Virginia's microgrid legislation enables the site to operate as the nation's first state-certified AI microgrid.

On January 28, 2026, AIP Corp ordered 2 GW of Caterpillar G3516 fast-response natural gas generator sets, with Boyd CAT as the authorized dealer. According to the company, the G3516 gensets can ramp from zero to full load in approximately seven seconds and "are well-suited for behind-the-meter data center applications due to rapid start capability, load-following performance, and high reliability in continuous-duty operation." Deliveries are scheduled from September 2026 through August 2027. Battery energy storage systems will augment the gas generators to handle rapid AI load swings.

A DEP construction permit application filed in April 2026 shows the initial phase consisting of three H-shaped data center buildings, each with its own set of natural gas generators.

The site has access to multiple pipeline laterals in the Appalachian Basin near the Marcellus and Utica shale fields. Per local reporting, the campus has access to several gas pipelines. Hope Gas has announced plans for a 30-mile, 24-inch "Prosperity Line" pipeline to supply the site. Cooling water would come from the Ohio River.

Construction Progress

Site preparation work began in April 2026 and has been verified by our satellite image analysis showing land clearing. The DEP construction permit application was submitted on April 20, 2026. No data center buildings or generation equipment are yet under construction. Nscale has said it expects the data center to be operational in January 2027, though other reporting from DCD and local news has cited early 2028 for the initial 2 GW phase.

Generation Equipment

  • Caterpillar G3516: 2 GW of fast-response natural gas generator sets (Phase 1)
  • Battery energy storage: Capacity not specified; intended to manage rapid load swings
  • Total Phase 1: 2 GW
  • Total at full build-out: 8 GW (targeted by 2031)

Key Partners

  • Nscale Global Holdings: Owner and operator (acquired AIP Corp in March 2026)
  • Microsoft: 1.35 GW letter of intent for AI compute capacity
  • NVIDIA: Vera Rubin NVL72 GPU platform
  • Caterpillar: G3516 natural gas generator sets
  • Hope Gas: "Prosperity Line" pipeline developer
  • Fidelis New Energy: Original project developer (team joined Nscale Energy & Power)
  • 8090 Industries: Founding strategic partner of AIP Corp

Timeline

  • August 2023: Original Monarch Cloud Campus announced as hydrogen-powered 1 GW project
  • January 2026: AIP Corp launched; 2 GW Caterpillar G3516 order placed
  • March 2026: Nscale acquires AIP Corp; signs LOI with Microsoft for 1.35 GW of AI compute; announced at NVIDIA GTC
  • April 2026: Site preparation begins; DEP construction permit application filed
  • September 2026 (target): First Caterpillar equipment deliveries begin
  • August 2027 (target): Equipment deliveries complete
  • H2 2027 / Early 2028: Operations expected (timelines vary by source)
  • 2031 (target): Full 8 GW build-out