\n<\/p>\n
Crusoe, a Denver-based AI data center startup that recently raised $3.9 billion<\/a>, has ended plans to use a new line of stationary power plants developed by fellow Denver company Boom Supersonic.<\/p>\n Founded in 2018 as a bitcoin miner that ran on excess natural gas from oil fields, Crusoe has since become one of the biggest builders of AI data centers<\/a>, including a massive campus in Abilene, Texas, that supplies computing power to OpenAI.<\/p>\n Boom Supersonic, which is developing a supersonic passenger jet called Overture, launched a new business last year to sell a version of the engine it\u2019s developing for that jet as natural gas-fired stationary power plants. Its Superpower turbine shares about 80% of the same parts with that airborne engine, called Symphony.<\/p>\n Crusoe had signed on to be the first customer for this business, agreeing to spend $1.25 billion on 29 of Boom\u2019s 42-megawatt Superpower turbines. The first deliveries were supposed to begin in 2027. But that deal has since fallen apart, according to Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl.<\/p>\n Friday, in a post on X<\/a>, after congratulating Crusoe founders Cully Cavness and Chase Lochmiller on the company\u2019s recent raise, Scholl said the companies are no longer moving forward with the turbine launch partnership. Although he did note that other customers were in its pipeline. <\/p>\n \u201cThe TL\/DR is that turbines are no longer part of Crusoe\u2019s near term primary power mix at Abilene\/etc., so a launch partnership just didn\u2019t make sense,\u201d he wrote in the post. \u201cBoom will be delivering about 250MW of Superpowers next year to other sites, and we\u2019re targeting 1GW in 2028. We\u2019re grateful for the help Crusoe gave us in shaping Superpower and continue cheering for their successes. The future is long, and we look forward to potentially teaming up if\/when turbines become part of their primary power mix.\u201d<\/p>\n Crusoe confirmed to TechCrunch that it is no longer doing business with Boom.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u00a0build AI factories from the\u00a0power\u00a0up, and we\u2019re bringing new campuses online across the country, powered by innovative energy sources,\u201d spokesperson Andrew Schmitt said in an email. \u201cAs our portfolio grows, we\u00a0stay\u00a0flexible, choosing the energy solutions\u00a0that are\u00a0right for each site as its needs evolve \u2013 including turbines, along with wind, solar, batteries and\u00a0the grid.\u00a0While Boom has been a great partner, the partnership isn\u2019t the right fit today. We wish them well.\u201d<\/p>\n Losing its launch customer<\/a> is seemingly a setback for Boom, which raised $300 million<\/a> last year, largely to commercialize the new business. The idea, Scholl told TechCrunch at the time, was to use profits from the stationary power plant business to fund the development of Overture.<\/p>\n Scholl could not be reached for comment before publication; TechCrunch will update this article if he responds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission<\/a>. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\n