People familiar said Alphabet (GOOG.O) and Blackstone (BX.N)’s $5bn AI cloud
project Project Braid has encountered data-center construction delays. The
project, backed by Blackstone’s $5bn investment and intended to lease Google
AI-chip compute to customers in 2027, had planned for developer Crusoe to build
a Cheyenne, Wyoming site; Alphabet canceled that arrangement, took over the
build and refiled permits after losing confidence in Crusoe’s ability to
deliver. Crusoe has been involved in OpenAI and ORACLE’s Texas “Stargate”
facility. Another planned site is stalled by a shortage of required
transformers. Sources said AI data-center development is being constrained by
power-equipment supply bottlenecks and permitting delays. Project Braid’s head
said the programme is proceeding and aims to provide 500 MW of compute capacity
next year.
