Nscale Microsoft West Virginia: 1.35GW NVIDIA Rubin AI Factory
Status: Groundbreaking / Pre-Construction (Letter of Intent signed March 2026) | Location: Multi-acre secure campus in West Virginia
Project Overview
Announced on March 16, 2026, at NVIDIA GTC, the collaboration between Nscale and Microsoft marks the development of the Monarch AI Campus as one of the most advanced large-scale AI infrastructure deployments globally. Designed as a flagship implementation of NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin NVL72 platform, the project represents a new class of hyperscale “AI Factory” built specifically for high-intensity generative AI training and inference workloads. Under a long-term agreement, Nscale will deliver and operate approximately 1.35 GW of dedicated AI compute capacity exclusively for Microsoft, signaling a major step toward vertically integrated AI infrastructure.
The campus leverages NVIDIA’s Rubin DSX reference architecture, enabling dynamic interaction with the power grid while optimizing workload distribution and energy efficiency. A key differentiator is its hybrid on-site energy generation model, which enhances grid resilience and ensures consistent power delivery for ultra-high-density compute clusters powered by Vera CPUs and Rubin GPUs. Strategically located in West Virginia, the facility benefits from proximity to major cloud interconnection hubs such as Ashburn and Chicago, enabling ultra-low latency connectivity and positioning it as a critical node in North America’s AI infrastructure network.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Nscale Microsoft West Virginia: 1.35GW NVIDIA Rubin AI Factory |
| Location | Multi-acre secure campus in West Virginia |
| Status | Groundbreaking / Pre-Construction (Letter of Intent signed March 2026) |
| Commissioning | Phase 1 Deployment: Second Half of 2026 |
| Total IT Load | 1,350 MW (1.35 GW) |
| Total Capacity | 1.35 GW dedicated to NVIDIA Vera Rubin GPU clusters |
| Tier Level | Tier IV (AI Factory Reference Design) |
| Project Type | Gigawatt-Scale AI Factory |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | West Virginia |
| Population | ≈ 1.77 million |
| Urban Agglomeration | ≈ 1.05 million (Charleston–Huntington–Parkersburg combined urban influence) |
| City GDP | ≈ USD 95–100 billion |
| Per Capita Income | ≈ USD 52,000 |
| City Tier | Tier-2 (Emerging / Strategic State Economy) |
| Key Strengths | Strategic East Coast proximity (close to DC, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania) |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | Nscale |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | State of West Virginia (Governor Patrick Morrisey) / AIPCorp. |
| Construction Contractor | Nscale Infrastructure Division / Local WV EPC Partners. |
| MEP Engineering | NVIDIA DSX Reference Design / Caterpillar Power Systems Engineering. |
| Network Connectivity | High-speed fiber mesh with low-latency links to Ashburn (VA) and Chicago (IL). |
| Power Infrastructure | 2 GW by H1 2028 via on-site Caterpillar natural gas generation; 8 GW by 2031. |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
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| Power Capacity | 8,000 MW (8 GW) Potential |
| UPS Redundancy | Integrated microgrid with on-site baseload generation. |
| Cooling System | High-efficiency AI-optimized design with zero impact on municipal water supply. |
| Connectivity | Strategic "Intelligence Corridor" connecting to major Mid-Atlantic cloud hubs. |
| PUE Target | < 1.10 |
| Energy Mix | Natural Gas with Carbon Sequestration (Initial); Hybrid Microgrid. |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | March 16, 2026 |
| Construction Start | 2026 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | Late 2027 (Initial Compute Tranches) |
| Full Buildout | 2031 (8 GW Target) |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Total Investment | Multi-Billion Dollar Framework (Microsoft LOI + AIPCorp Acquisition). |
| Funding | Nscale (backed by Aker ASA, NVIDIA, Dell, Nokia, 8090 Industries). |