Nuuk (Greenland): A former senior aide to President Donald Trump’s administration has unveiled plans for a massive AI data center in Greenland’s Arctic region, coinciding with renewed White House interest in acquiring the strategic Danish territory. Drew Horn, ex-advisor to Vice President Mike Pence and CEO of GreenMet, announced the multi-billion-dollar project targeting Kangerlussuaq, a remote fjord settlement with an airport.
The facility aims to begin at 300 megawatts by mid-2027, and go up to 1.5 gigawatts by late 2028 – dwarfing current global data centers. Horn pointed to Greenland’s natural cold for energy-efficient cooling, vital as AI demands skyrocket power needs. “We’ve secured half the funding via debt and equity, tied to permits,” he stated, noting technical partners for construction and energy.
Trump’s fixation on Greenland, first voiced in 2019, resurfaced post-reelection. The president eyes its minerals and geopolitics in a bid to counter China, aligning with US AI supremacy goals. Horn’s meetings with Danish and Greenlandic officials underscore diplomatic maneuvering, though approvals remain pending.
However, the project may face several challenges. Arctic construction limits seasons, server heat risks permafrost melt, and local land rights are hurdles. Experts warn advancing chip efficiency from Nvidia could lessen urgency for such remote builds. Greenland’s government insists on autonomy – “Greenland will stay Greenland” – rejecting US buyout talks.
