PAWNEE, Okla. — The City of Pawnee and Pawnee County took a concrete step toward a possible new data center in western Pawnee County. On Friday, Mayor Alice Cottle signed a limited authorization that enables the city to help coordinate an electric transmission cost study for the proposed Black Bear AI data center near Morrison.

City’s role in the transmission study

The authorization permits the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) to work alongside Oklahoma AI Ventures, LLC, and the Southwest Power Pool to examine how the campus could connect to the regional electric grid. The study will identify any needed upgrades, estimate their costs, and outline a timeline for implementation. Oklahoma AI Ventures will fund the study.

Potential benefits for Pawnee

Mayor Cottle emphasized that the effort aligns with her responsibility to strengthen the local economy, support community growth, and create opportunities for future generations. She noted that Pawnee already purchases electricity from GRDA for its municipal utility, and if the project proceeds, the city could serve as the campus’s retail electric provider.

Additional impact analysis

Separately, Oklahoma State University is conducting an impact study to assess how the data center could affect Pawnee and surrounding areas. The city pledged to keep residents informed of any decisions as the project moves forward.

Next steps

Both the transmission cost study and the OSU impact analysis are in early stages, and no commitments have been made regarding the data center’s construction. The City Council’s only action to date was authorizing Mayor Cottle to sign the limited agreement on November 6.

Original reporting: KTUL 8 (Sinclair) – local — read the source article.