Fairbanks rally targets data centers as Air Force pursues Eielson lease

The Department of the Air Force's interest in leasing land at Eielson Air Force Base for AI data centers surfaced in Fairbanks North Star Borough economic development minutes this week, the same week a community group organized a rally against 15 proposed statewide data centers.

Mayor Grier Hopkins briefed the Fairbanks North Star Borough Economic Development Commission on the Air Force's exploration of AI data center leases at Eielson, with draft minutes from the April 28 meeting showing Hopkins included the topic in his chair report alongside other borough items. Alaskans for Data Center Accountability has organized a rally at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Northern Alaska Environmental Center, 830 College Rd., Fairbanks, citing the 15 proposed statewide data centers as the basis for its concern.

The Air Force issued a Request for Information on Feb. 17, 2026, followed by a Request for Lease Proposal on April 10 covering roughly 4,700 acres across Eielson, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, and Clear Space Force Station. Under the Enhanced Use Lease model, private developers finance and operate facilities while the Air Force collects rent, generating value that "directly supports our missions and the readiness of our Airmen and Guardians."

Community concerns center on electrical load at Golden Valley Electric Association and at least one proposed parcel reportedly less than a mile from North Pole Middle School. Alaska AI has noted that recurring revenue from AI workloads would flow to operators rather than to Alaska. The Economic Development Commission has not taken a formal position; it meets next on July 28 at 2:30 p.m.