Mining companies are ramping up their efforts to secure energy resources amid increasing demand for data centers. Fortitude Mining, a firm focused on Zcash mining, has acquired a facility with a capacity of 12.5 MW in Nebraska, while analysts at Bernstein have noted a rise in the value of previously approved connections in Texas.
According to a press release, a subsidiary of Digital Currency Group has purchased the site in Prosser, marking it as Fortitude's third facility in the state.
The acquisition includes land, a building, and a 67 kV substation. The nominal purchase price was $6.25 million, but after certain deductions, the company estimates the net cash outlay to be around $4.7 million. With this new addition, Fortitude's portfolio now exceeds 60 MW of contracted capacity across seven locations in South Dakota, Nebraska, Texas, and New York.
“Acquiring the facility in Prosser is a significant step in scaling our operational portfolio. By combining targeted acquisitions like Prosser with our own development of new sites, we are building a vertically integrated platform aimed at maximizing the value of every megawatt we own,” stated Fortitude's CEO Andrea Childs.
The facility's electricity cost is estimated to be about $0.045 per kWh. Fortitude expects that the availability of cheap power and new miners will help reduce the direct cash cost of mining ZEC from approximately $70 to $40 per coin, assuming stable market and network conditions.
As of the time of writing, ZEC is trading above $485, having increased by 5.2% over the past 30 days, according to CoinGecko.
Daily chart of ZEC/USDT on Binance. Data: TradingView.This acquisition follows the launch of a 12 MW facility by Fortitude in Grand Island, which the company has described as its first site built from the ground up.
In late July, Fortitude also purchased 9,000 Antminer Z15 Pro units from Bitmain for approximately $31.5 million. The company estimates that these new machines will add around 7.56 GSol/s to its hash rate. In the first half of 2026, Fortitude mined 72,696 ZEC.
What's Happening in Texas
In response to rising electricity demand, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has instructed the state's Public Utility Commission and the energy operator ERCOT to conduct an audit of data centers seeking to connect to the grid. Approval for such projects has been suspended until the audit is completed, as reported by the Texas Tribune.
According to the publication, ERCOT is tracking over 1,800 applicants awaiting connection with a total capacity exceeding 474 GW. Governor Abbott indicated that approximately 90% of new requests are related to data centers.
“Our top priority is protecting the safety and quality of life for Texans. Any project that does not meet regulatory requirements or state laws should be denied connection to Texas's grid,” Abbott stated.
Analysts from Bernstein believe that the moratorium is unlikely to have a significant impact on already approved energy contracts for Bitcoin miners, as reported by Cointelegraph. They suggest that the restrictions are more likely to affect speculative data center projects and increase the value of sites with already approved capacities.
Among those recently approved, Bernstein highlighted facilities owned by IREN and Riot Platform. In contrast, Cipher Digital, Core Scientific, and CleanSpark may face more challenges from future resistance to new data centers.
Notably, in July, the largest U.S. mining company, MARA Holdings, acquired a site in Matagorda County, Texas, with a total deal value potentially reaching $600 million upon completion of all project phases.
On July 20, Hut 8 signed a 15-year lease for the second phase of the Beacon Point AI campus in Texas, with the contract amounting to $9.8 billion.