Enid, Okla. - Plainsmen Holdings, LLC, a partnership comprised of Enid natives Jason Singer, Aaron Singer, Chad Dillingham and Troy Phillips, today announced plans to develop Project Thunderbird, a data center and power corridor infrastructure initiative designed to support long-term economic growth and technological investment in Enid and Garfield County.
Working closely with city leaders and economic development partners, Plainsmen Holdings is developing Project Thunderbird to create lasting benefits for the Enid community through infrastructure investment, future-focused economic growth and a stronger local tax base. Once completed, the project is expected to generate tens of millions of dollars annually in new revenue for Enid schools, city services and community priorities for decades to come — without increasing taxes, electricity rates or water bills for residents.
"The Enid Regional Development Alliance (ERDA) works every day to attract innovative ideas, new investment and opportunities to strengthen Enid's economy and position our community for long-term success," said Dr. Marcie Mack, ERDA executive director. "The City of Enid has wisely invested in strategic infrastructure to attract transformational projects, and Project Thunderbird represents the type of forward-looking opportunity that can create lasting benefits for our community.”
The proposed Project Thunderbird development encompasses approximately 1,735 acres across four campuses in Enid and includes plans for an on-site power generation facility of up to 3.3 gigawatts enabled through a partnership with a major natural gas midstream energy provider.
If constructed as envisioned, the facility would generate electricity on-site to serve the campus without any strain on the regional electric grid. The project would represent one of the largest privately developed energy facilities in Oklahoma, providing long-term energy reliability while helping reduce demand on existing grid infrastructure.
The project’s corresponding infrastructure initiative, the Patriot Utility District, will support Vance Air Force Base with backup energy needs through hardened power and fiber infrastructure, strengthening operational reliability. Together, the initiatives are designed to drive economic growth while strengthening one of the community's most important assets.
“Vance Air Force Base and the Enid community have always been closely connected,” said Chad Dillingham, co-managing partner of Plainsmen Holdings. “Project Thunderbird will support the long-term future of both by investing in infrastructure that benefits the base as well as the families, businesses and community that depend on it.”
Dillingham said secure, U.S.-based data centers are becoming increasingly important to national security as Americans rely on digital infrastructure for banking, healthcare, communications, commerce and countless other aspects of daily life. He noted that, much like Vance Air Force Base helps protect the nation and has long been supported by the Enid community, secure domestic data infrastructure plays a growing role in safeguarding the country's interests. Dillingham said Enid is uniquely positioned to support that mission while building on its longstanding connection to Vance Air Force Base and America's defense efforts.
“Leadership at Vance Air Force Base understands that data centers are critical to national security. Nearly every military function depends on the ability to securely store, move, process and analyze vast quantities of data at speed and scale,” said Mike Cooper, military liaison for the City of Enid and chairman of the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission. “The U.S. military views data centers and AI computing as strategic assets, and communities that support that infrastructure play an important role in our national defense.”
Plainsmen Holdings emphasized that Project Thunderbird is committed to transparency, responsible development and being a long-term community partner. The project is being designed to minimize impacts on local resources, comply with all applicable local, state and federal requirements and preserve the quality of life that makes Enid a great place to live, work and raise a family.
"Enid is demonstrating the kind of leadership that communities will need as demand for advanced infrastructure continues to grow," Dillingham said. "By creating a clear regulatory framework before development occurs, the city has ensured that future investment is guided by transparency, accountability and community priorities. We commend city leaders for taking a proactive approach that balances economic opportunity with responsible planning and helps position Enid for long-term success."
If approved, Project Thunderbird plans to use raw water from the new Kaw Lake Pipeline, a renewable water source rather than groundwater. Advanced closed-loop cooling technology will be used to significantly reduce water consumption compared to traditional data center cooling systems.
“Our roots in Enid go back for generations,” Jason Singer said. “Our families built businesses here more than a century ago, and we care deeply about this community. Project Thunderbird is an opportunity to invest in Enid’s future, strengthen its economic foundation and support the next generation while preserving the qualities that make this community special.”
Plainsmen Holdings continues to work through additional project details before announcing the full scope of the initiative. More information will be shared publicly as plans continue to evolve in the coming weeks.
Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590631796470
Website:
https://projectthunderbird.com/
About Plainsmen Holdings, LLC
Plainsmen Holdings, LLC, is a partnership of Enid natives Jason Singer, Aaron Singer, Chad Dillingham and Troy Phillips, focused on supporting the long-term future of Enid through responsible infrastructure investment and economic development.
