TLDR
- The Independence City Council in Missouri approved Nebius’ plan to build a 1.2-gigawatt AI factory campus.
- The campus will span roughly 400 acres and create 1,200 construction jobs and 130 permanent roles.
- Nebius is expected to deliver over $650 million in payments to the city, schools, and local jurisdictions over 20 years.
- The facility uses a closed-loop cooling system and noise-reduction technology, powered by city-owned Independence Power & Light.
- Nebius aims to have 16 global data center sites by end of 2026, with projects also underway in New Jersey, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Alabama.
Nebius Group (NBIS) stock moved higher in pre-market trading on Tuesday after the company received approval to build its largest U.S. AI factory to date.
$NBIS Nebius secures approval for its first gigawatt-scale AI factory
Approval by City Council of Independence, Missouri, enables Nebius to proceed with construction of its largest US AI factory to date.
The project — a multi-building campus on approximately 400 acres — is… pic.twitter.com/VHJDwVsFLn
— Tevis (@FunOfInvesting) March 3, 2026
The Independence City Council in Missouri voted to grant a Chapter 100 industrial development incentive, clearing the path for Nebius to move forward with its “Independence” campus.
CEO Arkady Volozh called it the company’s biggest AI factory in the United States so far. “This is our first project of this scale, but not the last,” he said.
The campus will be built in Independence, Missouri, just east of Kansas City — an area where Nebius already has existing operations.
The site covers approximately 400 acres and will have capacity of up to 1.2 gigawatts. During construction, it’s expected to generate around 1,200 jobs, with 130 permanent high-tech positions once operational.
Nebius said the facility will connect to Independence Power & Light, the city-owned utility, without raising residential electricity bills.
What the Deal Means for Independence
Under the approved agreement, Nebius will make Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) projected to deliver more than $650 million to the city, local school districts, and other jurisdictions over a 20-year period.
The company has also committed to a community benefits package that includes STEM and AI literacy programs for local schools, workforce training, first responder support, and a Community Engagement Panel to keep ongoing dialogue open with residents.
On the environmental side, the factory will use a closed-loop cooling system that keeps water usage roughly comparable to a restaurant or office building. Noise-reduction technology will be built throughout the multi-building campus.
Nebius Expanding Fast Across the U.S.
Independence isn’t the only project on Nebius’ radar. The company is already building a 300-megawatt data center in Vineland, New Jersey, and has additional sites planned in Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Alabama.
The Amsterdam-based company has set a target of reaching 16 global data center sites by the end of 2026.
Analyst sentiment on NBIS remains positive. The stock carries a Strong Buy consensus on TipRanks, based on six Buy ratings and one Hold. The average price target of $150.86 implies roughly 74% upside from current levels.
Over the past 12 months, NBIS has climbed more than 193%, even as other neocloud names like CoreWeave have faced pressure from broader AI market concerns.
The Independence approval represents Nebius’ most ambitious U.S. infrastructure commitment to date, with the company targeting 16 global data center sites by year-end.
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