Florida Investor Proposes 10MW Data Center Conversion in Oklahoma's Pawhuska
April 2, 2026
A Florida-based investment firm is seeking to transform a large vacant industrial property in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, into a data center, highlighting the continued expansion of digital infrastructure into secondary markets. The move comes as demand for computing capacity, driven by artificial intelligence and other intensive workloads, pushes developers to seek sites with available power and existing structures.
Buckley Bros Holdings LLC has proposed acquiring a 200,000-square-foot building at 1901 E. Boundary in Pawhuska, located approximately 50 miles northwest of Tulsa, with plans to convert it into an 8-10 megawatt data center. The property, originally a carpet mill built in 1969 and renovated in 2020, was most recently used as one of Oklahoma's largest licensed indoor cannabis cultivation facilities.
A key factor in the site's selection is its adjacency to a 24MW electrical substation with 16MW of available capacity. While past marketing materials for the 18-acre site indicated a potential path to over 50MW of power, the developer's current proposal states the project would operate within the existing grid capacity and would not seek an expansion to 50MW. David Buckley, founder and CEO of Buckley Bros Holdings, told local press, "This data center project represents a significant opportunity to bring new jobs and investment to Pawhuska. We're excited to work with the city to make this a reality."
The proposal, however, faces local hurdles. The Pawhuska City Council recently discussed the potential sale but did not reach a decision. Some residents at the meeting voiced opposition, calling for a local moratorium on data center developments. Furthermore, city officials noted that the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority has not yet guaranteed the availability of the power required for the project.
If approved, the project would mark a significant industrial pivot for the property and introduce a new type of technology investment to the region, reflecting broader trends of data center development seeking cost-effective locations with power access. The outcome will serve as a test case for balancing economic development promises with local community concerns and infrastructure limitations in smaller markets.
Source: datacenterdynamics
Florida Investor Proposes 10MW Data Center Conversion in Oklahoma's Pawhuska
