Three agreements signed Friday would let U.S. firms start groundwork in Trinidad and Tobago for two large data centers and talks to restart a local steel plant, with the government projecting more than 5,000 jobs.
Ernst and Young LLP outlined a framework for a 300 MW data center, while Hummingbird AI Holdings agreed to preliminary cooperation and due diligence on a 150 MW AI infrastructure and data center facility.
The data center plans quickly drew environmental criticism because the twin-island nation still faces chronic water shortages and intermittent supply, raising concerns that water-intensive facilities could strain an already overstretched system.
The third deal with Pinnacle Steel and Vanadium Corporation covers further discussions on recommissioning an iron and steel plant the company recently acquired, part of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's push to attract U.S.-linked investment.