Texas is emerging as a key player in the growth of artificial intelligence data centers, according to Ross Perot Jr., chairman of Hillwood and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce board. Speaking at an Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce event, Perot highlighted that West Texas, particularly the Permian Basin, stands out due to its abundant natural gas supply.
Perot described the coming changes driven by AI as “a stunning revolution,” adding that the United States has an opportunity to surpass China in this sector. He noted that Texas is attracting significant investment in AI data centers and related energy infrastructure, making it second only to Virginia in this market.
“North America will dominate the world for the next 100 years,” Perot said. “If we get immigration reform, energy reform and all the energy in North America brought to bear, no one can touch us.”
Perot also discussed his long-term vision for AllianceTexas, which began as a cargo airport 35 years ago and has since evolved into a mixed-use logistics hub. The area now includes retail spaces and soundstages used by Taylor Sheridan, creator of “Yellowstone.” Perot was an early supporter of Sheridan’s work and facilitated filming projects such as “Landman” in Alliance buildings undergoing major renovations.
“You have a Fort Worth citizen, Taylor Sheridan, and his shows really do resonate with the Texas crowd and the U.S. crowd, and it’s just a fluke we have him,” Perot said during a talk at Texas Christian University. “That’s why I said: ‘This guy generates so much activity. How do we embrace him as a city? How do we have filming here? And where will it go?’”
On policy matters, Perot warned that tariffs and overregulation could hinder economic progress in Texas. He credited lobbying efforts by the U.S. Chamber with helping secure a temporary pause on former President Donald Trump’s initial tariff plan.
“They know the immigration problem, they know the tariff problem, and they’re all working hard to try to get it fixed,” Perot said, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Backstage, they know it. Onstage, you might get rhetoric, but our job at the chamber is to really work pure data backstage. And we’re trusted by the elected officials. If we tell them something, they’re going to know this isn’t PR spin.”
In other regional real estate news, sellers in North Texas are turning to auctions amid a softer luxury housing market; one McKinney property with an auto showroom recently went up for auction after being listed at $4.5 million. Meanwhile, Houston’s office market is showing signs of improvement with positive absorption recorded for two consecutive quarters.
