Dunleavy Announces Platform to Attract Data Centers to Alaska

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced a public corporation and investment platform on Monday to attract data centers to Alaska less than a month before leaving office.

The initiative arrives through the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority in partnership with Plural, a California startup launched in 2024. Dunleavy met with Plural Chief Executive Adam Silver at least seven times starting in June 2025, according to public calendar records reported by the Anchorage Daily News.

State land transfers to AIDEA and a 50-year lease approval for an Arctic data center accompanied the announcement. AIDEA board members voted earlier this year to send $20 million to the newly formed Alaska Data Corp., the Anchorage Press reported.

“As the country debates data centers, in Alaska, we have an opportunity to learn from what has occurred in other states and do it better here in our great state,” Dunleavy said.

Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is poised to succeed Dunleavy and has said he would support a moratorium on data center construction until the state establishes a comprehensive regulatory package. Kreiss-Tomkins also stated support for increased oversight of AIDEA.

Critics contend the moves lack sufficient public input and oversight. Aubrey Wieber, founder of a progressive advocacy group called the 907 Initiative, criticized Dunleavy for moving public dollars to Lower 48 corporations as he prepares to leave office.

“Dunleavy is shelling out our cash to some company named Plural to build multiple data centers as quickly as they can, when he has less than a month in office,” Wieber told the Anchorage Daily News.

“If Plural had any real interest in doing this, they would hit pause and start building a relationship with the incoming governor’s administration,” Wieber said.

State spokespeople and Plural representatives did not respond to inquiries regarding the partnership details.