Power
Power and the grid
25 MW energized
Existing on-site substationServing the site
capacity serving the site today, built under IBM; not the planned campus load; no expansion filing News report · Oct. 2026
Energized now
Getting on the grid
- Blackstart says it intends to expand capacity in the existing data-center facilities, subject to power availability. News report · Oct. 2026
- A since-removed Blackstart web page reportedly marketed growth to 220 MW (press); no application, permit or utility document states any planned MW. News report · Oct. 2026
Permits
Permits checklist
1 granted · 2 checked, nothing on file
City actions on record.
- ✓Rezoning of the built core to an industrial park district GrantedSan Jose City Council · Aug. 18, 2026: 9-2; Councilmembers Kamei and Campos sought a delay News report · Aug. 2026
- –Checked, nothing on file: Data-center development application, State energy, air or utility filings
Risks
What could slow it down
- MediumEnvironmental oppositionGroups cite serpentine grassland, Bay checkerspot butterfly habitat and diesel generator emissions (press). News report · Oct. 2026
- MediumPower availabilityAny expansion beyond the existing 25 MW substation depends on power availability, and nothing has been filed. News report · Oct. 2026
- WatchDisclosure questionsThe council was told no data-center application existed while Blackstart was already in the rezoning file and marketing the site. News report · Oct. 2026
Money
Money on record
Not on record: purchase price from IBM: undisclosed, terms not shared (press) News report · Sept. 2026; tax or incentive agreement: searched, Oct. 2026 News report · Oct. 2026
Timeline
What happened, and what is due
SitePaper trailConstructionPowerPermitsMoneyLegalUpcoming
- 2025Site IBM decides to move Almaden staff to its Silicon Valley Lab and puts the campus up for sale (press) News report · Aug. 2026
- May 29, 2026Paper trail 650 Harry Road LLC registered in Delaware
- June 2, 2026Permits City opens environmental review file ER26-088 for the rezoning; applicant 650 Harry Road LLC News report · June 2026
- Aug. 18, 2026Permits City Council rezones the built core 9-2 over environmental groups' objections News report · Aug. 2026
- Sept. 18, 2026Site Blackstart's website openly markets the site as its flagship AI-compute campus (press) News report · Sept. 2026
- Oct. 1, 2026Site Blackstart's agreement to buy the campus is reported; city says no development application has been filed News report · Oct. 2026
- Dec. 2026Money Expected closing of the purchase News report · Sept. 2026
The buildings
Specs
565 acres of surrounding open space Blackstart says it will not develop. News report · Oct. 2026
- Closed-loop: cooling, battery safety systems and noise mitigation planned (company) News report · Sept. 2026
Who is involved
Owners, partners and builders
Owners
- IBM: current owner and seller
- Blackstart Digital (co-founder Chadwick Manning): buyer
- 650 Harry Road LLC: buyer entity
Decision-makers
- San Jose City Council (Councilmembers Rosemary Kamei and Pamela Campos voted no)
- City of San Jose Planning Department
Opponents
- Sierra Club, California Native Plant Society and Mothers Out Front (joint letter)
- Green Foothills
Still unknown
Open questions
- Planned campus MW and serving utility.
- Development application and environmental review.
- Purchase price and closing.
Where this comes from
43 records from 7 documents
Drawn from news reports, state agency records and business registries, each kept with its date and source. The bar shows documents by type.
News report 6State agency 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 (8)
- Site already hosts some data center space and preexisting data center facilities; Blackstart aims to expand the 25 MW substation, with no expansion target MW stated in press/company statements checked“The site already hosts some data center space and is served by a 25MW substation that Blackstart is aiming to expand.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- The site is served by an existing 25 MW on-site substation (installed under IBM) which Blackstart aims to expand; expansion is expressly 'subject to power availability.' Basis: the 25 MW is existing substation capacity s“The site already hosts some data center space and is served by a 25MW substation that Blackstart is aiming to expand.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- City staff confirmed in Oct 2026 that no development application regarding 650 Harry Road has been filed; any proposal would go through CEQA environmental review and a public process. The campus's power arrangements beyo“No other application regarding this property has been filed”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Blackstart website reportedly marketed the site in September 2026 as its flagship AI-compute campus with plans to grow to 220 MW“By September, Blackstart’s own website was openly marketing 650 Harry Road as its flagship AI-compute campus, with plans to grow to 220 megawatts.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Council was told no formal data center application had been filed in August, while Blackstart was already in the city's rezoning file and later marketed a 220 MW plan; a formal 220 MW application had not been filed“That does not mean a formal 220 MW data-center application had already been filed. City staff specifically said it had not.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Blackstart's own website markets 650 Harry Road as its flagship AI-compute campus with plans to grow to 220 MW (as reported by a local watchdog blog reviewing the council record, Oct 5, 2026). Basis: developer marketing“By September, Blackstart's own website was openly marketing 650 Harry Road as its flagship AI-compute campus, with plans to grow to 220 megawatts.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Utility service: 25 MW“The campus is served today by an on-site 25-megawatt substation and houses multiple generations of preexisting data center facilities where we intend to expand capacity, subject to power availability”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Blackstart's own (now removed) website marketed 650 Harry Road as its flagship AI-compute campus 'with plans to grow to 220 megawatts' - no basis (IT/utility/generation) is stated and no application is filed, so the figu“By September, Blackstart's own website was openly marketing 650 Harry Road as its flagship AI-compute campus, with plans to grow to 220 megawatts.”News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
Money and contracts (6)
- County code: 06085“Blackstart Digital — a data center development and investment firm focused on sustainable redevelopment — has entered into an agreement to acquire the historic campus in South San Jose”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Project status: announced only acquisition agreement no development application“No other application regarding this property has been filed, she said, adding that once an application is submitted, the city will determine the appropriate environmental review”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Announced: Oct. 1, 2026“Blackstart Digital — a data center development and investment firm focused on sustainable redevelopment — has entered into an agreement to acquire the historic campus in South San Jose”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Project status: Rezoned (Aug 18, 2026) and under contract to acquire (purchase agreement announced late Sept 2026, closing expected by end of 2026); NO data center application has been filed with the City and nothing is“No other application regarding this property has been filed, she said, adding that once an application is submitted, the city will determine the appropriate environmental review”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Existing buildings: Seven existing buildings containing more than 500,000 sq ft within a ~35-acre industrial park core; the plan is conversion/retrofit of the existing buildings to AI/data-center use, not demolition; Bla“The property includes seven buildings containing more than 500,000 square feet within a 35-acre industrial park. A company spokesperson said Blackstart Digital doesn't intend to develop the surrounding 565 acres of open space”News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
- land purchase: purchase agreement“Terms of the deal have not been shared.”News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
Permits and government (5)
- The rezoning is the campus's only permit-track action retrieved. Blackstart Digi: Former IBM Almaden campus rezoned to an industrial park zoning district, Aug 18, 2026, enabling future data center development; no data ce“In August, the San Jose City Council voted to rezone the campus as an “industrial park zoning district,” potentially paving the way for data center development.”News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
- Environmental groups (Sierra Club, California Native Plant Society, Mothers Out Front) opposed the rezoning in a joint letter, arguing SB 131 exempts advanced manufacturing on industrial-zoned land from CEQA review; no l“In a joint letter to the city council, environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, California Native Plant Society and Mothers Out Front said the rezoning would be consequential”News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
- San Jose City Council:“The San Jose City Council sees it differently and voted 9-2 to approve the industrial park rezoning on Aug. 18. Councilmembers Rosemary Kamei and Pamela Campos voted against it”News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
- Developer: Blackstart Digital, acting through 650 Harry Road LLC (applicant of record in City environmental file ER26-088)“The City's environmental-review file for the rezoning, ER26-088, was opened June 2. The record identifies: Applicant: 650 Harry Road LLC”News report · June 2026 · grade C
- File ER26-088 covers the rezoning only; no data center development application h: Environmental review file OPENED for the rezoning“The City's environmental-review file for the rezoning, ER26-088, was opened June 2.”News report · June 2026 · grade C
Site and other (3)
- Green Foothills and other environmental groups opposed/concerned about a data center on the site, citing serpentine grassland, Bay checkerspot butterfly habitat and diesel generator emissions““We’re very concerned about the potential for a data center to be located on that site,” Alice Kaufman, policy and advocacy director for Green Foothills, told San José Spotlight.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Blackstart said it does not intend to develop the surrounding 565 acres of open space“A company spokesperson said Blackstart Digital doesn’t intend to develop the surrounding 565 acres of open space, knowing how much the trails and hillsides mean to the community.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Project identity: Former IBM Almaden Research campus at 650 HARRY ROAD, San Jose, CA (NOT Cottle Road - IBM moved its Almaden staff TO the Silicon Valley Lab at 555 Bailey Road near Cottle/Bailey; secondary coverage conf“The company is buying the campus at 650 Harry Road in a deal that could close before the end of the year.”News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C