A major infrastructure shift is underway in Lancaster
Yondr Group—a global developer, owner, and operator of hyperscale data centers—has secured a 163-acre site south of Dallas to build a facility designed to support 550 megawatts of critical IT load, with construction expected to begin in 2026.
For context, 550 megawatts is enough to power over 500,000 homes.
Most business leaders would hear that and think, If a company needs that much power, the grid must be getting stronger. It sounds reassuring. It just doesn’t tell the whole story.
“It’s easy to assume new development means more capacity for everyone,” says George Makaye, CEO of GXA. “But most of these projects are building their own safety nets. The rest of us still need to think through what happens if the grid gets tight.”
Hyperscale Infrastructure Is Built for Itself
Yondr builds and runs massive data centers; facilities packed with thousands of servers that require constant power, cooling, backup systems, and high-speed data connections. These environments serve as the backbone for AI models, video calls, enterprise apps, and streaming platforms.
To support that load, Yondr upgrades substations, negotiates directly with ERCOT, and builds its own dedicated power lines. Those investments protect Yondr’s uptime, but they often draw from the same limited pool that the rest of the region depends on.
Why Dallas-Fort Worth Should Pay Attention
That matters in DFW. Growth isn’t just vertical. It’s power-hungry. Warehouses, corporate campuses, multifamily developments, and job-site trailers are all being constructed faster than the grid can expand.
Businesses across the region already feel the strain:
- Slower utility timelines
- Postponed connections
- Flickering power during peak heat
- Delayed internet activations
As more hyperscale developers plug in, the grid’s extra margin shrinks. Demand rises faster than generation or transmission can keep up. These operators secure long-term access. Others compete for what remains.
ERCOT’s Isolation Creates Local Risk
ERCOT operates as an isolated grid. Unlike other states, Texas can’t import electricity from neighboring regions when demand spikes. That structural gap creates real risk.
We’ve all felt it—during Winter Storm Uri in 2021 or through rolling brownouts during record-setting summer heat. These weren’t isolated events. They exposed just how tight the margin really is.
When systems get stretched, job crews pause mid-day. Meetings move. Deliveries slip. The disruption is visible. The grid is more complex, and each new strain shortens the margin for recovery and raises the cost of the next hit.
Continuity Isn’t About Spending. It’s About Readiness.
Make sure your continuity assumptions still hold. This isn’t about panic; it’s about readiness. You don’t need expensive upgrades. You need confidence that your current setup can withstand a surprise hit.
That starts with:
- Verifying your backups (UPS systems, generators, backup fuel, cellular failovers)
- Rehearsing your first hour (who acts, which systems restore first, how work stays moving)
- Asking where your vendors’ infrastructure lives
- Knowing how long your team can stay productive without power
One common mistake? Assuming a “backup” internet line provides protection. In reality, both connections often run through the same provider infrastructure. When that provider fails, both lines drop. The business stays offline, despite the extra investment.
Lead with the Right Questions
Continuity starts with visibility. The grid may not fail, but it no longer flexes the way it used to.
Yondr builds for the digital backbone of the world. Your business runs on a different scale, but the stakes are just as real. Your team needs to keep working. Your customers expect consistent service. Your brand must remain trusted, even when things go sideways.
GXA helps leadership teams stress-test the assumptions behind that continuity. You don’t need another project. You need clarity, focus, and a smarter plan for resilience.
A few questions worth asking:
- Does our backup internet connection come from a different provider, or is it just a second line on the same network?
- If our generator kicks in, how long will it take before we run out of fuel?
- Which systems do we restore first, and who makes that call?
- Do our cloud providers have regional failover, or are they all concentrated in the same zone?
Preparation isn’t a technical expense. It’s a competitive advantage.
