Data center profile · 145th Street near Interstate 530, Pulaski County (Wrightsville area), Arkansas

AVAIO Digital Leo

A 150 MW Entergy Arkansas-contracted campus near Little Rock, Arkansas, that the developer says could reach 1 GW, now on hold amid a county fight over data center rules

On hold, rules in dispute. AVAIO announced the campus in Jan. 2026 with first power targeted for mid-2027 and says it has broken ground. Press reports it on hold while Pulaski County's data center ordinance, vetoed Sept. 25, 2026, faces an override attempt whose outcome is not on record.
150 MW
contracted with Entergy Arkansas
utility load, per the developer (Jan. 2026)
Up to 1 GW
demand the developer anticipates at full build
developer says; not contracted
$6B
first-phase investment announced
$21B+ at full development (developer)
296 acres
on the developer's campus page
the Jan. 2026 announcement said 760 acres
OperatorAVAIO Digital Partners (developer)
CustomerNone named; AVAIO says it is the developer and hopes to lease to a hyperscale user
Planned IT capacity120 MW at full build-out (our estimate from the company or utility power figure)
Next stepOutcome of the county court's planned Oct. 13 attempt to override the veto is not on record
Permits

Permits checklist

1 contested · 2 denied · 1 pending · 2 checked, nothing on file

Approvals a campus like this normally needs, and what we found.

Risks

Why it stopped, what could revive it

Power

Power and the grid

150 MW contracted

Entergy Arkansas grid service, first phaseContracted, not energized
150 MW
contracted; energization stated as June 2027 in the release and Q4 2027 on the developer's campus page State agency · Jan. 2026
Full-build grid and on-site gasAnticipated by developer
1,000 MW
developer anticipates up to 1 GW; not contracted; the campus page lists 570 MW grid plus 500 MW behind-the-meter (marketing figures) State agency · Jan. 2026
ContractedProposed

Getting on the grid

Who supplies what, what it costs, and what is still not public.

  1. Jan. 12, 2026
    150 MW contract announced
    AVAIO says it is contracted with Entergy Arkansas for 150 MW, energized by June 2027. State agency · Jan. 2026
  2. Aug. 31, 2026
    Service agreement before the PSC
    Entergy tells the Arkansas PSC the customer takes standard Large Power Service rates and no special rate; the commission's decision is pending. see Permits
  3. June 2027
    First energization targeted
    The developer's stated target for the first 150 MW; its campus page says Q4 2027. Company · Oct. 2026
Money

Money on record

$6B initial combined investment, AVAIO and customers (developer says; $21B+ through full development). State agency · Jan. 2026

Timeline

What happened, and what is due

SitePaper trailConstructionPowerPermitsMoneyLegalUpcoming
  1. Jan. 12, 2026
    Site AVAIO announces a $6 billion first phase with 150 MW from Entergy, energized by June 2027 Company · Jan. 2026
  2. May 26, 2026
    Permits Quorum Court exempts AVAIO from a proposed moratorium; the moratorium itself later fails on a corrected count News report · May 2026
  3. Aug. 4, 2026
    Permits Little Rock's city board splits 4-4 on a moratorium (city limits only) News report · Aug. 2026
  4. Aug. 31, 2026
    Power Entergy files its brief defending the service agreement before the state PSC Utility regulator · Aug. 2026
  5. Sept. 22, 2026
    Permits Quorum Court adopts a data center ordinance requiring a conditional use permit, 11-4 (press) Local government · Sept. 2026
  6. Sept. 25, 2026
    Permits County Judge Barry Hyde vetoes the ordinance News report · Sept. 2026
  7. Oct. 13, 2026
    Permits Justices plan to seek a veto override; no outcome found News report · Oct. 2026
  8. Oct. 2026
    Site Project reported on hold during the county rules fight (press) News report · Oct. 2026
The buildings

Specs

296 acres
on AVAIO's campus page (the Jan. 2026 release said 760 acres)
Company · Oct. 2026
500+ jobs
permanent operations jobs expected over five years (developer)
State agency · Jan. 2026
Who is involved

Owners, partners and builders

Owners
  • AVAIO Digital Partners (CEO Mark McComiskey): developer; ADP Little Rock Data Hub, LLC is the customer on the utility contract
Decision-makers
  • Pulaski County Quorum Court: county legislature
  • County Judge Barry Hyde: vetoed the ordinance
  • Arkansas PSC and Entergy Arkansas: service agreement
Still unknown

Open questions

Where this comes from

78 records from 23 documents

Drawn from news reports, local government records, company statements, state agency records and utility regulator dockets, each kept with its date and source. The bar shows documents by type.

News report 13Local government 5Company 2State agency 2Utility regulator 1
Evidence

Every quote behind this page

Grade key: A = the primary record itself (permit, filing, exhibit) · B = a dated official statement · C = news reporting. Map distances are our own measurements on OpenStreetMap and carry no grade. Allegations in lawsuits are marked as such in the quotes.

Power (10)
  • Utility service: 150 MW
    “to compensate EAL for reserving 150 MW of capacity otherwise unavailable to others”
    Utility regulator · Aug. 2026 · grade A
  • electric service agreement review: Agreement for Electric Service under Commission review; Entergy Initial Brief (Doc. 56) filed
    “The customer is taking service under Commission-approved tariffed rates and applicable riders, is not receiving a special rate”
    Utility regulator · Aug. 2026 · grade A
  • large load interconnection request: Agreement for Electric Service with additional customer protection terms filed; Entergy Arkansas initial brief filed Aug 31, 2026; public-interest finding pending
    “to compensate EAL for reserving 150 MW of capacity otherwise unavailable to others”
    Utility regulator · Aug. 2026 · grade A
  • Site acres: 760 acres
    “At 760 acres, a size sufficient to support a large, multi-building campus with on-site power generation”
    State agency · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • Utility: Entergy Arkansas
    “AVAIO is currently contracted with Entergy Arkansas for 150 MW of power”
    State agency · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • AVAIO anticipates power demand of up to 1 GW at full build-out; the only contracted figure is 150 MW (mw utility).
    “but the company anticipates power demand of up to 1 GW as the facility grows”
    State agency · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • Site has substantial on-site natural gas infrastructure for rapid deployment of on-site (behind-the-meter) power options per the announcement
    “Substantial onsite natural gas infrastructure facilitating rapid deployment of energy-efficient on-site power”
    State agency · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • Entergy Arkansas presented in favor of data centers to the Quorum Court at the May 26, 2026 meeting.
    “Entergy Arkansas Vice President of Customer Service Ventrell Thompson gives a presentation in favor of data centers to the Pulaski County Quorum Court on May 26, 2026.”
    News report · May 2026 · grade C
  • Interconnection status: Contracted, APSC review pending - the AES with Entergy Arkansas (Docket No. 26-011-U) reserves 150 MW for Jun 2027 energization, superseding the queue's interconnection study stage; growth path re
    “Its existing contract with Entergy Arkansas is for 150 megawatts of electricity when the center opens in June 2027. The utility plans to provide an additional 420 megawatts.”
    News report · Feb. 2026 · grade C
  • Power plan: 150 MW contracted with Entergy Arkansas; anticipated demand up to 1 GW at full build-out; site features substantial on-site natural gas infrastructure for behind-the-meter options
    “The developer has secured a contract with Entergy Arkansas for 150 MW of grid power and anticipates demand growing toward 1 GW as the campus expands.”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
Money and contracts (11)
  • Executed Electric Service Agreement (AES) - customer-protection terms: electric service agreement (AES) with customer-protection terms Executed AES for AVAIO Digital Leo: initial contracted grid capacity 150 MW, priced u
    “Avaio will take service under the Commission-approved Rate Schedule No. 8, Large Power Service ("LPS"), and will pay all applicable riders; the AES does not deviate from the Commission-approved LPS rate.”
    Utility regulator · Oct. 2026 · grade A
  • electric service agreement (AES): customer-protection terms; 100% transmission CIAC; minimum bill on reserved capacity 150 MW
    “Avaio will pay a CIAC covering 100 percent of the costs to construct the transmission facilities needed to serve the project”
    Utility regulator · Aug. 2026 · grade A
  • Developer states it has broken ground and holds a fully approved Site Plan; no county approval document was located this pass to confirm either claim.
    “AVAIO has broken ground on Project Leo, a 296-acre project with an initial fully contracted capacity online by 2027.”
    Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • Announced investment: 6 USD billion
    “an initial $6 billion combined investment from AVAIO and its customers in infrastructure, power and tenant deployments over the course of the project”
    State agency · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • Entergy Arkansas Electric Service Agreement (ESA) - 150 MW contracted: power contract Entergy Arkansas electric service agreement (ESA): 150 MW contracted grid power; energization stated as Q2 2027 in the announcement.
    “AVAIO is currently contracted with Entergy Arkansas for 150 MW of power”
    State agency · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • AVAIO Digital Leo announcement commitments (AEDC release) - investment: investment AVAIO Digital Leo announcement commitments (AEDC release): Initial $6 billion combined investment in infrastructure, power and tenant dep
    “an initial $6 billion combined investment from AVAIO and its customers in infrastructure, power and tenant deployments over the course of the project”
    State agency · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • AVAIO Digital Leo announcement commitments (AEDC release) - jobs: jobs AVAIO Digital Leo announcement commitments (AEDC release): More than 500 new full-time permanent operations jobs expected over the next five years, p
    “The new data center campus is expected to ultimately create more than 500 new full-time permanent operations jobs over the next five years”
    State agency · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • investment commitment: announced investment and jobs commitment 6 USD billion (first phase; over $21 billion at full development)
    “With a first phase investment of $6 billion and over $21 billion through full development”
    State agency · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • Developer incentive statements (county community meeting, Jun 2026): tax incentive Developer statements to a county community meeting on incentives: AVAIO said it may be eligible for state or local tax incentives if it m
    “AVAIO said the project may be eligible for state or local tax incentives if it meets employment and investment requirements, and that they plan to pursue them”
    News report · June 2026 · grade C
  • Tenant/end user not known; AVAIO is the developer and hopes to lease to a hyperscale user; the tenant would likely step into or contract through AVAIO's Entergy contract.
    “The tenant/end user is not known ... AVAIO made clear it is the developer, not the final end user.”
    News report · June 2026 · grade C
  • AVAIO Digital Leo announced Jan 12, 2026: 760-acre campus near Little Rock (reported site near Interstate 530 and 145th Street), $6 billion first-phase investment (over $21 billion at full development), 500+ permanent jo
    “Local press reports the campus will be located on land near Interstate 530 and 145th Street.”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
Permits and government (14)
  • Entergy Arkansas submitted its Agreement for Electric Service with ADP Little Ro: AES with customer-protection terms under Commission review; Entergy Initial Brief filed (Doc. 56)
    “The customer is taking service under Commission-approved tariffed rates and applicable riders, is not receiving a special rate... and is executing the standard AES approved by the APSC with the incorporation of several additional customer protection terms.”
    Utility regulator · Aug. 2026 · grade A
  • Pulaski County Quorum Court:
    “No HIDIU may be located, constructed, expanded, materially modified, or operated in the unincorporated areas of Pulaski County unless a Conditional Use Permit has been approved and become effective under this Ordinance”
    Local government · Sept. 2026 · grade B
  • Pulaski County Quorum Court - Agenda Committee:
    “I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THE COMMUNITY UNANIMOUSLY, LOUDLY WANTS TO PASS A MORATORIUM ON THE BUILDING OF HYPERSCALE DATA CENTERS.”
    Local government · June 2026 · grade B
  • Pulaski County Quorum Court - Agenda Committee:
    “THIS DATA CENTER ON 145TH STREET WAS PLANNED IN 2024.”
    Local government · May 2026 · grade B
  • Pulaski County Quorum Court:
    “several court justices have said they will seek to override that veto at the regularly scheduled quorum court meeting on Oct. 13.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Pulaski County Judge (Barry Hyde):
    “Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde on Friday vetoed an ordinance meant to establish regulations on large-scale data centers.”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • The adopted HIDIU ordinance would apply immediately to the AVAIO project; unlike the failed May moratorium it does not grandfather AVAIO, setting up a possible vested-rights fight.
    “the new ordinance does not grandfather AVAIO Digital's planned 6 billion dollar Wrightsville project, setting up a possible vested rights fight.”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • City of Little Rock Board of Directors:
    “The Little Rock City Board of Directors voted on Aug. 4 on an ordinance that would have established an 18-month moratorium on permitting and approving hyperscale data centers within city limits.”
    News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
  • City of Little Rock Board of Directors:
    “The Little Rock Board of Directors approved changes to the city's industrial zoning ordinances in a voice vote, with no audible dissent.”
    News report · June 2026 · grade C
  • At the May 2026 moratorium debate, project opponent Wendell Griffen argued AVAIO had no utility connections and no permit as a basis for grandfathering - an opponent claim made before the APSC docket became public; the m
    “One wonders how AVAIO would qualify for a grandfathering provision if AVAIO has no utility connections, has not been issued a permit”
    News report · June 2026 · grade C
  • Opposition counsel questioned whether AVAIO could qualify for any grandfathering, noting it had no utility connections and no permit.
    “One wonders how AVAIO would qualify for a grandfathering provision if AVAIO has no utility connections, has not been issued a permit”
    News report · May 2026 · grade C
  • county ordinance (moratorium): one-year data center moratorium FAILED on corrected vote count 8-6-1 (10 of 15 required)
    “Eight justices of the peace voted for the measure, six voted no and one voted present. Hollingsworth erroneously recorded the vote as 10 in favor, four against and one present.”
    News report · May 2026 · grade C
  • Pulaski County Quorum Court:
    “the May 26 vote by the Quorum Court had been miscounted and that Ordinance 26-I-37 ... did not receive enough votes to pass. ... She summarized the outcome plainly: "It did not pass."”
    News report · May 2026 · grade C
  • Pulaski County Quorum Court:
    “The AVAIO exemption to the moratorium narrowly passed with eight votes, the minimum for a majority on the 15-member court.”
    News report · May 2026 · grade C
Legal (1)
  • Project reported on hold during the quorum court fight over noise, water and safety rules.
    “The project is currently on hold following several weeks of lengthy meetings at the Pulaski County Quorum Court over noise, water and other safety, climate and infrastructure concerns.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
Site and other (5)
  • Site location: 145th Street, Little Rock, Pulaski County, AR (south Little Rock, near Wrightsville)
    “Location 145th Street, Little Rock, Pulaski County, AR”
    Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • County code: 05119
    “announced today a major new data center hub near Little Rock in Pulaski County, Arkansas”
    State agency · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • Developer: AVAIO Digital Partners
    “AVAIO Digital Partners (AVAIO Digital) announced today a major new data center hub near Little Rock in Pulaski County, Arkansas”
    State agency · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • Project status: announced only
    “Construction of the first phase of the project is expected to start in the first quarter of 2026 and will be complete and energized in June 2027.”
    State agency · Jan. 2026 · grade B
  • The 145th Street property was surveyed, identified and marketed by the Little Rock Regional Chamber team over three years before the announcement.
    “Over three years ago, our team surveyed sites across the region and worked with landowners to market properties with the goal of landing projects like this”
    State agency · Jan. 2026 · grade B