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Riot Rockdale × AMD

Last updated

Former largest bitcoin mine in North America
Partially operational

The old Alcoa smelter site that became North America's largest bitcoin mine is now Riot's data center business. AMD holds 50 MW on a 10-year lease, and in August 2026 an unnamed frontier AI lab signed for 191 MW over 20 years worth $9.1 billion, 241 MW of the site's 700 MW approved interconnection, with the rest earmarked for conversion.

700 MWPlanned power
Developer
Riot Platforms
Owner
Riot Platforms
Tenant
AMD: 50 MW contracted, 10-yr (~$636M); plus an unnamed frontier AI lab: 191 MW, 20-yr, $9.1B (reported as Anthropic)
Power detail
700 MW approved grid interconnection at Rockdale, which Riot states it intends to convert entirely to data center use; 241 MW contracted (AMD 50 MW, frontier AI lab 191 MW). Disclosed figures.
Power source
ERCOT grid: 700 MW approved interconnection (Oncor); Terrestrial Energy MOU signed May 2026 for co-located 390 MW IMSR nuclear plants in the early 2030s, with natural gas contemplated as a bridge
Cooling
Not disclosed
Compute
AMD AI hardware (reported)
Construction start
2026: AMD retrofit, first 5 MW delivered Jan 2026
Est. completion
AMD 50 MW fully deployed May 2027; 191 MW AI-lab lease fully delivered June 2028
Grid strategy
ERCOT grid
County
Milam
Nearest city
Rockdale
Announced
2026-01-16