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Fermi America, which is developing what it calls the world’s largest private grid to power artificial intelligence, has named former Amarillo Mayor Trent Sisemore as its community lead while advancing a major international nuclear partnership with Doosan Enerbility.
The Texas Tech University System partner announced the move this week as part of its effort to connect with the Amarillo community, where it plans to build an $11 billion private grid and artificial intelligence campus on 5,200 acres of university land near the city. Preliminary economic impact studies project the development could create about 2,500 direct jobs and 6,000 indirect jobs, generating an estimated $1.2 billion annually during construction.
Sisemore, who served as mayor from 2001 to 2005 and as a city commissioner, will act as Fermi’s local representative. His role includes hosting town halls, collaborating with civic groups and businesses, and leading a new Community Advisory Board that the company says will address infrastructure, housing and environmental concerns.
Fermi co-founder and CEO Toby Neugebauer said Sisemore was chosen because of his deep ties to the region.
“Growing up in the Panhandle forged shared values that Trent exemplifies,” Neugebauer said. “We believe his leadership will help ensure Amarillo’s voice is heard as we build this project.”
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, another Fermi co-founder, described Sisemore’s appointment as a signal of the project’s credibility.
“Trent’s track record shows he gets things done while keeping community first,” Perry said.
A familiar local figure
Sisemore is a well-known figure in Amarillo politics and business. During his tenure in city government, he supported initiatives that brought Bell Helicopter’s manufacturing plant to Amarillo, helped develop the Amarillo Civic Center’s performing arts space, and backed the purchase of water rights that city leaders say will sustain the city for more than 200 years.
Beyond politics, Sisemore served 17 years on the board of Happy State Bank and worked with local charities, including the High Plains Food Bank. A businessman and entrepreneur, he co-owned Jack Sisemore Traveland with his father before selling it in 2017, and he was a founding partner of Keystone RV, which grew into the world’s largest travel trailer manufacturer at the time of its sale in 2001.
“For me, this project is about making sure Amarillo’s skilled workforce benefits from the opportunities it will bring,” Sisemore said.
Global partnership
The announcement came days after Fermi signed a memorandum of understanding with Doosan Enerbility, a South Korean company that supplies components for more than 40% of the world’s nuclear power plants, according to industry reports.
Neugebauer said Doosan’s track record gives him confidence the project can remain on schedule. “Doosan is the largest, most respected nuclear power plant component supplier in the world,” he said. “They know how to deliver on time and on budget.”
Mesut Uzman, Fermi’s chief nuclear commercial officer, also pointed to Doosan’s history of delivering projects in Asia and the Middle East. “Having worked with them before, I’ve seen their precision and commitment to safety firsthand,” Uzman said.
Doosan President Jongdoo Kim characterized the partnership as one built on “mutual respect and a shared commitment to innovation.”
Long-term plans
Fermi’s Amarillo campus aims to deliver 11 gigawatts of power — enough to supply about 3 million homes — and 15 million square feet of AI computing capacity. The project will combine natural gas, nuclear, solar and battery storage to meet the demand for data centers, which the U.S. Department of Energy estimates consume 10 times more energy than traditional facilities.
The first gigawatt of natural gas generation is expected online by the end of 2026, with one additional gigawatt added annually for a decade. Nuclear construction is slated to begin in 2027, with the first small modular reactor projected to be operational by 2032.
“Amarillo has the talent and grit to make this project a success,” Sisemore said. “We’ll work together to ensure this campus benefits our community for generations.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Fermi America names Amarillo’s Trent Sisemore community lead, signs nuclear partnership
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
