$45bn+ West Virginia Data Center Project Advances as Anthropic–Nscale Deal Talks Continue

The West Virginia data center project could add more computing power for artificial intelligence through a proposed second facility at Nscale’s Monarch campus. Anthropic is reportedly negotiating another multibillion-dollar deal with the British company that provides cloud computing services, CNBC reported on October 20, 2026.

The proposed deal would secure computing capacity at a second facility with a capacity of 460 megawatts, according to CNBC and other financial news outlets. However, neither company has confirmed a final agreement.

The proposed project reflects the fast-growing need for infrastructure that can run large artificial intelligence models. It also shows the challenges developers face when building data centers that need large amounts of electricity, including construction, power supply and funding. If completed as planned, the second facility would make the Monarch campus an even more important part of Anthropic’s growing computing infrastructure.

The reported figure of more than $45 billion represents the possible value of the computing deal, not the cost of building the data center. This difference matters because the deal would cover access to computing capacity, not just the physical building.

West Virginia Data Center Project Targets 460MW Capacity

The proposed second building would add 460 megawatts of computing capacity to Nscale’s Monarch campus in West Virginia. Bloomberg first reported the negotiations. CNBC later reported on the talks, citing a person familiar with the matter. Data Center Dynamics also reported that the proposed deal could include Nvidia’s Vera Rubin chips.

The companies reached a deal of similar reported value in August 2026 for the first facility at the campus. The new talks could therefore lead to another major commitment between the AI developer and the infrastructure provider.

Anthropic also reportedly has a right of first refusal for a possible third building at the site. This could give the company another chance to expand its computing capacity there, although the construction schedule and cost of a third facility have not been confirmed.

Expanding the campus would require careful coordination of building work, electrical systems, cooling equipment and powerful computing hardware. Developers must make sure these systems work together before the facility can provide its planned computing capacity.

The project’s high energy needs also make power supply and reliability important concerns. Reuters reported that the planned campus development would use a gas-fired power plant on site to avoid delays caused by connecting to the electricity grid. However, available reports do not provide a final construction schedule or confirm that all required approvals and funding are in place.

The proposed expansion in West Virginia is part of a wider race to build AI infrastructure across the United States. A similar effort is underway in Wisconsin, where Meta plans a nearly $1 billion data center in Beaver Dam to support its growing artificial intelligence and cloud computing operations. Both projects show how major technology companies are committing billions of dollars to computing infrastructure as demand for AI grows.

West Virginia Data Center Project Faces Power and Financing Challenges

The proposed expansion comes as AI infrastructure providers face increasing pressure to complete large computing projects on time. Reliable electricity, access to funding and the availability of equipment are all important to completing these projects successfully.

Nscale has also faced problems with a separate project near London. The company reportedly lost Microsoft as the main tenant for a planned 50MW facility in Loughton after delays in connecting to the electricity grid. Microsoft and Nscale said the setback did not end their wider business relationship.

The London project shows how electricity infrastructure can delay a data center, even when customers have strong demand for computing power. Generating electricity on site could help the West Virginia campus avoid some delays caused by grid connections. However, the developer must still meet requirements for permits, funding, construction and operations.

Financial pressures also add to the risks surrounding the proposed deal. The Financial Times reported that Nscale faces funding and execution risks as it prepares for a possible public listing. Reports about its financial position and dependence on major customers show why it is important to turn planned deals into working data centers.

Meanwhile, Anthropic continues to seek computing capacity for its Claude artificial intelligence products. The proposed deal would give the company access to more computing infrastructure without requiring it to build and operate the entire facility itself.

Under the reported arrangement, Anthropic would pay for computing power as Nscale makes it available. Nscale would own and operate the data center and its hardware. This setup means the deal’s success would depend on delivering usable computing power, not simply finishing the building.

The negotiations therefore represent a potentially major commitment, but they do not amount to a completed construction contract. The final agreement, funding arrangements and delivery milestones will determine how quickly the proposed facility moves forward.

Project Fact Sheet

Name: Proposed second Monarch data center facility.

Type: Data center for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

Location: Nscale’s Monarch data center campus, West Virginia, United States.

Reported potential deal value: About $45 billion.

Proposed capacity: 460 megawatts.

Intended use: Computing capacity for Anthropic’s artificial intelligence models and Claude products.

Proposed technology: Nvidia Vera Rubin AI chips, according to industry reports.

Power strategy: Reports say the plan includes a gas-fired power plant on site.

Project status: Proposed; negotiations are ongoing, and no final agreement has been confirmed.

Previous development: A deal of similar reported value for the first facility at the campus was reported in August 2026.

Potential future expansion: Anthropic reportedly has a right of first refusal for a possible third building.

Financing and permitting: Available reports have not confirmed the final funding arrangements or required approvals.

Project Team

Proposed customer and computing capacity tenant: Anthropic, the company that develops Claude artificial intelligence products.

Data center developer and operator: Nscale, a UK-based provider of cloud computing and AI infrastructure.

Computing hardware supplier: Nvidia, whose Vera Rubin chips have been mentioned in reports about the proposed facility.

Power infrastructure: Reports describe plans for an on-site gas-fired power plant, but the contractor and plant developer have not been named.

Permitting and regulatory authorities: Available reports do not identify the specific West Virginia or local authorities involved.