Google-Blackstone TPU Venture Faces Site Delays as Cheyenne Plan Shrinks
Project Braid, the $5 billion joint venture between Google (GOOG) and Blackstone to build a cloud infrastructure powered by TPUs, is encountering delays at several potential U.S. data-center sites. One of these includes a scaled-down campus in Cheyenne, Wyoming, which was acquired from Crusoe Energy Systems but has been reduced in scope. Other issues include unsuitable transformers at an unnamed site and grid connection restrictions affecting Texas locations. Despite the setbacks, Project Braid remains on track to deliver 500 MW of capacity by 2027. The venture currently identifies around 29 potential data-center sites across the U.S., allowing for flexibility as development progresses unevenly at different locations. Blackstone initially committed $5 billion in equity when the partnership was announced last year, while Google is providing TPUs and software to support a compute-as-a-service platform separate from its main cloud business. The delays highlight early execution challenges for an ambitious project relying on a large pipeline of sites. While 2027 remains unchanged as a target date, how well the venture can adapt between locations will determine whether these issues remain isolated or escalate into broader problems.
Topics: data centers Google-Blackstone partnership Project Braid TPU cloud venture