Crusoe Abandons $1.25 Billion Plan to Deploy Boom Supersonic Turbines at AI Data Centers

Crusoe, a Denver‑based AI data‑center startup that recently secured $3.9 billion in funding, has cancelled its plan to deploy a new line of stationary power plants from fellow Colorado firm Boom Supersonic.

Founded in 2018 as a bitcoin‑mining operation that utilized excess natural gas from oil fields, Crusoe has grown into one of the largest builders of AI data centers, notably operating a massive campus in Abilene, Texas, that provides computing capacity to OpenAI.

Boom Supersonic, which is developing the Overture supersonic passenger jet, launched a venture last year to market a derivative of its jet engine as a natural‑gas‑fired stationary power plant. The Superpower turbine shares roughly 80 % of its components with the airborne Symphony engine.

Crusoe had agreed to be the launch customer for this venture, committing to purchase 29 of Boom’s 42‑megawatt Superpower turbines for $1.25 billion, with initial deliveries slated for 2027. However, according to Boom CEO Blake Scholl, the arrangement has collapsed.

In a post on X on Friday, after congratulating Crusoe founders Cully Cavness and Chase Lochmiller on their recent raise, Scholl said the two companies are no longer pursuing the turbine partnership, noting that other prospective customers remain in the pipeline.

Scholl explained that turbines are no longer part of Crusoe’s near‑term primary power strategy for sites like Abilene, making a launch partnership impractical. He added that Boom expects to deliver roughly 250 megawatts of Superpower turbines to other customers next year and aims for 1 gigawatt by 2028, thanking Crusoe for its input on the turbine design and expressing hope for future collaboration should the technology fit Crusoe’s long‑term plans.

Crusoe confirmed to TechCrunch that it has ended its business relationship with Boom.

“We build AI factories from the ground up, powering new campuses nationwide with innovative energy solutions,” said Crusoe spokesperson Andrew Schmitt in an email. “As our portfolio expands, we remain flexible, selecting the energy mix—whether turbines, wind, solar, batteries or grid power—that best suits each site’s evolving needs. While Boom has been a valuable partner, the current arrangement isn’t the right fit. We wish them continued success.”

Crusoe’s original 1.2‑gigawatt data center in Abilene, constructed for Oracle and OpenAI, runs on grid power, with a gas‑turbine unit reserved for backup only. The company is also constructing a 900‑megawatt facility in Abilene for Microsoft that will rely on on‑site gas turbines.

The loss of Crusoe as a launch customer represents a setback for Boom, which raised $300 million last year primarily to commercialize its stationary‑power business. Scholl told TechCrunch that the intention was to use profits from the turbine venture to fund development of the Overture jet.

Scholl was unavailable for comment before publication; TechCrunch will update the story if he responds.

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