Key Highlights
- Independence City Council in Missouri granted approval for Nebius to construct a 1.2-gigawatt AI factory campus.
- The development will occupy approximately 400 acres and generate 1,200 construction jobs plus 130 permanent positions.
- The company plans to contribute more than $650 million in payments to the city, educational institutions, and regional jurisdictions across 20 years.
- The campus features closed-loop cooling infrastructure and noise-reduction systems, drawing power from city-owned Independence Power & Light.
- By the close of 2026, Nebius targets operating 16 data center locations globally, with additional developments progressing in New Jersey, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Alabama.
Nebius Group (NBIS) shares gained ground in pre-market activity Tuesday following the company’s successful approval to develop its most expansive U.S. AI factory facility.
The Independence City Council in Missouri approved a Chapter 100 industrial development incentive, enabling Nebius to proceed with construction of its “Independence” campus.
CEO Arkady Volozh described the facility as the company’s largest AI factory in the United States to date. “This represents our first project at this magnitude, with more to follow,” he stated.
The campus location sits in Independence, Missouri, directly east of Kansas City — a region where Nebius maintains current operations.
The facility will encompass roughly 400 acres and support capacity reaching 1.2 gigawatts. Construction phase projections indicate approximately 1,200 jobs, followed by 130 permanent high-tech roles during operational phases.
Nebius confirmed the facility will draw power from Independence Power & Light, the city-owned utility provider, while maintaining stable residential electricity rates.
Financial Impact for Independence
The approved agreement requires Nebius to provide Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) totaling an estimated $650 million-plus to the city, school districts, and regional jurisdictions throughout the 20-year term.
The company has pledged a community benefits program featuring STEM and AI literacy initiatives for area schools, workforce development programs, first responder assistance, and a Community Engagement Panel designed to maintain regular communication with local residents.
Regarding environmental considerations, the factory will deploy a closed-loop cooling system maintaining water consumption levels similar to restaurant or office facilities. Noise-reduction infrastructure will be integrated across the multi-building development.
Rapid U.S. Expansion Strategy
Independence represents one component of Nebius’ broader development strategy. The company currently has a 300-megawatt data center under construction in Vineland, New Jersey, alongside planned facilities in Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Alabama.
The Amsterdam-headquartered company aims to operate 16 data center locations worldwide by the conclusion of 2026.
Wall Street analysts maintain bullish views on NBIS. The stock holds a Strong Buy consensus rating on TipRanks, supported by six Buy recommendations and one Hold. The average analyst price target of $150.86 suggests approximately 74% potential upside from present levels.
Throughout the past year, NBIS has surged more than 193%, maintaining momentum while other neocloud competitors like CoreWeave have experienced headwinds from wider AI market uncertainties.
The Independence approval marks Nebius’ largest U.S. infrastructure undertaking, advancing the company toward its goal of operating 16 global data center facilities by year’s end.
