Bowles flips, veto overridden, and residents get their first look at what’s possible.
By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | March 23, 2026
The Matanuska‑Susitna Borough Assembly’s override of Mayor Edna DeVries’ veto this month cleared the way for borough staff to help a private company pitch borough-owned land to potential developers.
The focus is on attracting big electricity users, including data centers and high-performance computing facilities. This puts the Valley on the map for major industrial projects, even though no construction has started.
The decisive moment came when Assembly Member Michael Bowles switched his vote, moving from opposition to support and tipping the balance in favor of the override. Bowles said he wanted more clarity on community input and economic potential before blocking the measure.
📞 (907) 355-1355 | ✉️ Michael.Bowles@matsugov.us | Term: Nov 2025 – Nov 2026
His change pushed the resolution across the finish line, setting up a two-year partnership with Terra Energy Center Corp. to reach out to companies that might be interested in building high-energy projects on borough land near Port MacKenzie, Big Lake, and along the West Susitna Access Road.
What Residents Should Know
While no construction has started and no facility has been approved, leased, or funded, the Assembly’s action opens the door for potential projects. Borough staff can now assist Terra Energy in showing borough-owned land to companies that might want to build big electricity-using operations such as data centers or high-performance computing facilities. Utilities have not committed to supplying power, and no land sales have taken place.
Any developer would still need to navigate land-use permits, zoning approvals, and environmental assessments before construction could begin. In short, this vote starts the conversation and exploration, but it does not guarantee that a data center or other industrial facility will be built.
The Borough has also issued a Request for Letters of Interest (RFI) to gather non-binding responses from companies that want to develop borough land for high-energy projects. Letters are due June 1, 2027, and could include data centers, high-performance computing facilities, industrial operations, or other energy-intensive uses.
The company exploring data center projects on Mat-Su Borough land is also tied to what federal officials call America’s “Big Beautiful Coal” power resurgence. Terra Energy recently reached a $1 BILLION agreement tied to a 1.25 GW coal power project in Alaska. It would be the first U.S. utility-scale coal plant boiler order since 2006.
So here’s the question:
Who really benefits if this energy boom comes to the Valley?
Tomorrow we dig in. 🏔️🏭⚡
Sources
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly meeting records and public documents on the veto override and data center–related partnership
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough Request for Letters of Interest (RFI) for development of borough-owned land for high-energy industrial uses
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning and Development Services information on land use, zoning, and permitting
- Matanuska Electric Association information regarding large power loads and regional electrical planning
- U.S. Department of the Interior, “Securing American Energy Dominance,” referencing Terra Energy Center’s $1 billion agreement in principle with Hyundai Heavy Industries Power Systems for a 1.25 GW coal power project in Alaska
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency information on environmental review and permitting for large industrial facilities
- U.S. Geological Survey research on climate trends and water conditions in Alaska
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game wildlife and habitat information for the Mat-Su region
