Sutton's select board is scheduled to meet to review a proposed USD 16 billion data center project put forward by the Kraft Group and Unified Global Packaging Group.

The meeting represents a formal step in the town's evaluation of one of the largest private investment proposals ever presented to the central Massachusetts community.

Select board review marks key step for USD 16 billion project

The review comes as the project's proponents seek the approvals needed to move forward with a development that, according to the town manager, would represent approximately USD 16 billion in private investment.

Approval from the select board is required for the project to proceed, making Tuesday's session a critical milestone in the proposal's path.

Project site and campus layout

The data center is planned for a property located off Providence and Boston roads in Sutton. According to details provided ahead of the meeting, the final campus would include two buildings to start, with the initial phase of construction centered on that pair of structures.

In addition to the buildings themselves, the campus design calls for several on-site substations, reflecting the significant electrical infrastructure that data center operations of this scale require.

The inclusion of multiple substations on the property underscores the power-intensive nature of the proposed facility, which is already the subject of discussions with the regional power grid operator.

Power discussions with ISO New England

The project is currently in talks with ISO New England regarding its power usage. ISO New England is the organization responsible for overseeing the region's electric grid, and engagement with it is a key element of bringing a facility with the energy demands of a large-scale data center online.

Those discussions remain ongoing as of the select board review, and the outcome of the talks with the grid operator will be among the factors that shape the project's eventual feasibility.

The proposal's need for several on-site substations, as described in the plan, aligns with the scale of power consumption being addressed in the ISO New England conversations.

Water use details not yet disclosed

While aspects of the project's power profile are the subject of active discussions, details on the facility's water use have not been revealed. No figures or descriptions of expected water consumption have been made public as of the select board meeting.

The absence of water use details leaves open a category of information that residents and officials may seek as the review process continues. For now, the town has confirmed the project's location, initial building count, substation plans, and overall investment figure, but water usage remains undisclosed.

Scale of the investment

The town manager has characterized the full project as representing about USD 16 billion in private investment. That figure covers the proposed development as presented by the Kraft Group and Unified Global Packaging Group, the two entities behind the proposal.

The USD 16 billion estimate places the Sutton proposal among substantial private capital commitments in the region, and the figure is the amount cited by town leadership in describing the scope of what is being weighed by the select board.

Select board approval required

Approval from the select board is required for the project to proceed. Tuesday's meeting is dedicated to reviewing the proposal, and the board's consideration of the project is a necessary condition for it to advance.

The structure of the review places the decision-making authority with Sutton's elected select board, meaning the fate of the USD 16 billion proposal rests with local officials rather than being determined solely through state or regional processes.

The involvement of ISO New England on power matters and the eventual disclosure of water use details will unfold within that local approval framework.

Key players behind the proposal

The project is a joint proposal from the Kraft Group and Unified Global Packaging Group. Both organizations are named as the developers bringing the USD 16 billion data center plan to Sutton, and the select board's Tuesday review is focused on the proposal as they have presented it.

The planned campus off Providence and Boston roads, with two initial buildings and several on-site substations, constitutes the development as described to the town.

As the select board convenes to examine the proposal, the confirmed elements remain the site location, the two-building starting configuration, the substation plans, the ongoing ISO New England power discussions, the undisclosed water use details, and the approximately USD 16 billion in private investment that the town manager says the full project represents.

Tracking the Data Center Surge Across the United States Before Your Competitors Do

Hyperscalers and colocation providers are racing to secure land, power, and permits across the United States, but how much of that pipeline is visible to you? Every delayed insight into a new campus announcement is a missed opportunity to position your products, services, or investments ahead of the crowd.

The Global Project Tracking (GPT) platform by Blackridge Research cuts through the noise, delivering early-stage intelligence on data center developments across key US markets.

Whether you supply cooling systems, electrical infrastructure, fiber connectivity, or construction services, knowing which projects are moving from planning to procurement gives you the time advantage that closes deals.

• Upcoming Projects

• Tender Notices

• Contract Awards

• Projects Under Construction

• Completed Projects

Book a Free Demo of the Global Project Tracking (GPT) platform by Blackridge Research and see the full data center pipeline across the United States today.