North America is set to welcome a new heavyweight in the digital infrastructure sector: PowerBridge LLC, a venture led by former Cumulus Data executives and backed by a €930 million equity commitment from Five Point Infrastructure. The company plans to develop gigawatt-scale data center campuses across the continent, addressing surging demand for AI-driven computing power and energy-efficient facilities.
From Cumulus to PowerBridge: Proven Leadership
PowerBridge is headed by Alex Hernandez, former CEO of Cumulus Data and Talen Energy. At Cumulus, Hernandez led the development of a 1 GW data center campus directly tied to Talen’s 2.6 GW Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant—providing direct, carbon-free power independent of the public grid. That campus was acquired by Amazon Web Services in 2024 for €650 million, with AWS planning to invest up to €12 billion in expanding it to nearly 1 GW of capacity.
This track record of integrating energy and infrastructure is central to PowerBridge’s vision: delivering hyperscale-ready campuses with secure, scalable, and cost-effective power solutions.
€930 Million Backing from Five Point Infrastructure
The €930 million equity injection from Five Point Infrastructure will fuel PowerBridge’s mission to become a cornerstone of North America’s data economy. Five Point’s broader ecosystem provides PowerBridge with access to strategic partners and resources:
- LandBridge: Over 275,000 acres in the Permian Basin, close to the Waha gas hub—ideal for low-cost, gas-fired generation
- WaterBridge: Industrial-scale water solutions for high-efficiency data center cooling
- Infrastructure Integration: Joint capabilities in power, fiber, land, and water to streamline development and reduce operational risk
Strategic Focus: Hyperscale Clients and Energy Efficiency
PowerBridge aims to serve large-scale cloud and AI companies, focusing on facilities that provide high uptime, energy efficiency, and direct access to competitive energy resources. The gigawatt-scale model targets hyperscale workloads that need vast amounts of computing power and reliable infrastructure.
David Capobianco, CEO of Five Point Infrastructure, noted:
“PowerBridge adds a critical piece to our powered land strategy. Together with LandBridge and WaterBridge, we’re enabling the next generation of digital infrastructure at scale.”
What Comes Next?
While initial locations have not yet been disclosed, industry analysts expect early development to center on the U.S. Southwest and Midwest—regions with favorable energy economics, land availability, and regulatory support.
Construction timelines and anchor tenants are expected to be announced later in 2025.
With the AI and cloud sectors accelerating, PowerBridge’s integrated model could become a template for large-scale infrastructure investment in the digital age.
Summary of Key Financials
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Equity Commitment | €930 million |
| Prior Campus Deal (Cumulus to AWS) | €650 million |
| Planned AWS Expansion | €12 billion |
| Initial Development Target | Gigawatt-scale capacity |
| Planned Start Year | 2025 (anticipated) |
PowerBridge’s launch signals a new phase in digital infrastructure—one that blends energy, data, and real estate into a unified strategy for the AI era.
