What We Know About Crusoe's Canceled Boom Turbine Deal

Crusoe, the Denver-based AI data center builder, has ended its $1.25 billion agreement to buy natural gas turbines from Boom Supersonic, according to TechCrunch. The deal had made Crusoe the launch customer for Boom's new stationary power business, with the first of 29 turbines expected to arrive in 2027.

What was the original deal?

Crusoe agreed to spend $1.25 billion on 29 of Boom's 42-megawatt Superpower turbines, TechCrunch reported. The turbines share roughly 80% of their parts with Symphony, the engine Boom is developing for its supersonic passenger jet, Overture. Crusoe, founded in 2018 as a bitcoin miner running on excess natural gas from oil fields, has since become one of the largest builders of AI data centers, including a campus in Abilene, Texas, that supplies computing power to OpenAI, according to TechCrunch.

Why did the partnership end?

Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl announced the split on X on Friday, after first congratulating Crusoe founders Cully Cavness and Chase Lochmiller on the company's recent $3.9 billion raise. "Boom will be delivering about 250MW of Superpowers next year to other sites, and we're targeting 1GW in 2028," Scholl wrote, per TechCrunch. "We're grateful for the help Crusoe gave us in shaping Superpower and continue cheering for their successes." Scholl's original post included a line he later deleted: "The TL/DR is that turbines are no longer part of Crusoe's near term primary power mix at Abilene/etc., so a launch partnership just didn't make sense."

What does Crusoe say about its energy plans?

Crusoe spokesperson Andrew Schmitt told TechCrunch the company's overall energy strategy "haven't changed" and that it still intends to use turbines — "just not Boom's." "We build AI factories from the power up, and we're bringing new campuses online across the country, powered by innovative energy sources," Schmitt said. "As our portfolio grows, we stay flexible, choosing the energy solutions that are right for each site as its needs evolve — including turbines, along with wind, solar, batteries and the grid. While Boom has been a great partner, the partnership isn't the right fit today. We wish them well."

Crusoe's initial 1.2-gigawatt Abilene data center, built for Oracle and OpenAI, runs on grid power, with a gas-turbine plant reserved for backup only, according to the company.

What does this mean for Boom's turbine business?

Scholl said other customers remain in Boom's pipeline and pointed to the 250-megawatt and 1-gigawatt delivery targets for 2027 and 2028. He also left the door open to a future arrangement with Crusoe: "The future is long, and we look forward to potentially teaming up if/when turbines become part of their primary power mix."

What to watch

• Whether Boom names specific customers for its 250MW of 2027 Superpower deliveries.
• Which turbine supplier Crusoe selects for future campuses.
• Progress on Boom's Overture supersonic jet program, which shares engine components with the Superpower line.
• Additional Crusoe data center announcements following its $3.9 billion raise.