20 Year Lease Signed for TeraWulf Data Center in Hawesville
By Lane Tongate
A major announcement was made Monday for the proposed TeraWulf data center at the former Century Aluminum site as AI company Anthropic signed a 20-year lease for the Hawesville campus.
The agreement is expected to generate approximately $19 billion in contracted lease revenue over the initial term and marks another significant step in the redevelopment of the property that once employed more than 600 local workers before Century Aluminum announced its closure in June 2022.
Since the project was first announced, residents have raised questions about everything from jobs and environmental impacts to the role artificial intelligence will play at the facility. Following Monday’s announcement, The Hancock Clarion spoke exclusively with TeraWulf to address many of those questions.
According to TeraWulf, the lease secures Anthropic as the first customer for approximately 401 megawatts of critical IT capacity and allows the project to move into its next phase of development.
“The lease with Anthropic represents a major milestone for the Justified Data Campus,” a TeraWulf spokesperson said. “With the lease now complete, the project is moving into execution, including early-stage construction activities, project financing and delivery of the campus.”
The Hancock Clarion also asked whether additional companies would lease space at the Hawesville campus.
TeraWulf said Anthropic will be the only customer occupying the initial 401 megawatts covered under the lease. However, company officials said the property has additional development potential that could support future expansion by Anthropic or other customers.
The company said the campus is being designed specifically for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Officials said the facility will provide the power, connectivity and infrastructure needed to support advanced AI systems.
Employment has remained one of the biggest questions among local residents, especially following the loss of over 600 manufacturing jobs after Century Aluminum closed.
TeraWulf said construction of the campus is expected to create hundreds of skilled trade jobs over several years. Once the initial 480-megawatt campus is fully operational, the company currently anticipates employing between 80 and 100 people. Officials also expect additional jobs to be created by contractors, tenants and other service providers working at the site.
Residents have also questioned whether a project of this size is common for a rural community like Hancock County.
TeraWulf said the Justified Data Campus is expected to be one of the larger announced artificial intelligence infrastructure projects in the United States, requiring significant power infrastructure, long term planning and private investment.
Many residents have questioned how Hancock County will benefit from a project expected to generate approximately $19 billion in contracted lease revenue over the next 20 years.
According to TeraWulf, that figure represents revenue generated through the lease agreement with Anthropic and not a direct investment into the community. However, company officials said the project is expected to bring long term economic benefits through construction spending, infrastructure improvements, new jobs, an expanded local tax base, and increased demand for local businesses and services.
TeraWulf also said it plans to become an active community partner as development moves forward.
“Our lease with Anthropic also contemplates a community engagement program focused on supporting local initiatives, and we look forward to working with community leaders to identify opportunities that create lasting benefits for Hancock County,” a spokesperson said.
As for construction, TeraWulf said the development schedule remains unchanged. Initial operations are expected to begin during the second half of 2027, with the full 401 megawatts of critical IT capacity expected to be online in early 2028.
Environmental concerns have also been a topic of discussion since the project was first announced.
According to TeraWulf, there have been no changes to the project’s expected environmental impact since earlier public meetings. Company officials said the redevelopment includes environmental remediation of the former industrial site and a closed loop cooling system designed to minimize water use during normal operations. They added that the project will continue through all required permitting and regulatory review processes.
The Hancock Clarion also asked what message TeraWulf would like to share with residents who remain skeptical about bringing a large artificial intelligence data center to Hancock County.
“We understand that projects of this scale naturally generate questions, and we believe those questions deserve thoughtful answers,” a TeraWulf spokesperson said. “Our focus is on delivering lasting benefits for Hancock County through redevelopment of a long idled industrial site, significant private investment, new jobs, growth of the local tax base, and ongoing community engagement.”
Local officials have also fielded numerous questions from residents during Fiscal Court and city council meetings over the past several months.
Hancock County Judge Executive Johnny W. Roberts Jr. said Monday’s announcement confirms Anthropic will serve as the end user for the Hawesville facility.
“At this point, we know that TeraWulf has entered into a 20-year agreement with Anthropic, which will serve as the end user at the Hawesville facility,” Roberts said. “TeraWulf previously indicated that it would announce the end user during the summer, and this announcement states that. As additional information becomes available, we will provide further updates.”
As development continues, TeraWulf says it plans to maintain communication with local officials and residents throughout the construction process.
