Claremore Advances Large-Scale Data Center Project Amid Community Discussion
Claremore remains at the center of one of northeast Oklahoma’s most significant economic development conversations this year
Claremore Advances Large-Scale Data Center Project Amid Community Discussion
Claremore remains at the center of one of northeast Oklahoma’s most significant economic development conversations this year. City leaders have approved key agreements for a multi-billion-dollar data center project known as Project Mustang, while residents continue to raise questions about long-term impacts and public process.
Project Mustang Moves Forward
In May the Claremore City Council approved a Tax Increment District agreement supporting a data center development by Beale Infrastructure in the Claremore Industrial Park. The project is projected to bring an estimated $3 to $4 billion in private investment over the next five to seven years.
Company representatives have stated the multi-year buildout is expected to support 400 to 800 construction jobs annually in its early phases, with initial permanent on-site employment of approximately 35 to 70 full-time staff at average salaries near $75,000 including benefits. Additional contractor roles in security, maintenance, and related services are also anticipated.
Beale Infrastructure has committed $3.5 million to Northeast Tech’s Claremore campus to expand classrooms, curriculum, and hands-on certification programs aimed at building a local workforce pipeline for data center operations careers.
Community Benefits and Infrastructure Commitments
Under the approved structure, local taxing entities—including school districts, Rogers County, and emergency services—are projected to receive substantial long-term funding. Estimates shared publicly include approximately $140 million directed toward schools, $25 million for workforce training and related programs, more than $100 million for local infrastructure, utilities, and public safety, and additional support for community organizations.
City and company officials have emphasized that the facility is expected to use relatively modest amounts of water (primarily for domestic and fire-suppression purposes) and that the project is designed to limit impacts on residential utility rates.
Public Pushback and Referendum Effort
Despite the projected economic benefits, the project has faced sustained public opposition. In June, organizers filed three referendum petitions seeking to force a public vote on ordinances related to the data center. Signature totals exceeded the required thresholds, and the effort continues to generate discussion about transparency, infrastructure capacity, and the role of public input in large-scale development decisions.
City leaders have maintained that the project has followed required legal and due-diligence processes, including public hearings, and that nondisclosure agreements common in early-stage economic development were later superseded by open meetings and formal votes.
Looking Ahead
Pending remaining planning, permitting, and regulatory reviews, construction is targeted to begin as early as fall 2026. Claremore officials describe the project as one of the largest private investments in the city’s recent history and a potential long-term economic driver, while acknowledging that community questions about growth, infrastructure, and quality of life remain part of the ongoing conversation.
Residents can expect continued public discussion and additional regulatory steps in the months ahead as the project moves from approval toward potential construction.
