You might say Will Gray II kicked off 2025 on a high note. A really high note. The co-founder and CEO of New Era Helium rang the NASDAQ opening bell on January 2 to all the fanfare that moment generates when you also become one of the first helium-focused companies to land a listing on a major U.S. exchange.

Reese Energy Consulting today is following the latest news from Midland, Texas-based New Era Helium, which operates more than 137,000 acres in the Permian’s Pecos Slope gas field in Southeast N.M. with 1.5 BCF of proved and probable helium reserves. And that’s where the story gets interesting. For the uninitiated, demand for helium is huge; it’s also highly valuable. The U.S. produces 43% of the world’s supply of helium to manufacture MRI magnets, semi-conductor chips, fiber optics, and microscopes. But with the advent of AI, a whole new market has been born that’s now taking top billing for helium hunger. That would be the production of artificial intelligence chips. And Will Gray has leapt on the opportunities his Permian assets bring to the furious data center buildout.

In short order, the company made a bold decision to redirect its gas and helium production with a behind-the-meter strategy to support power generation for AI data centers. After finalizing a 50/50 JV with New York-based Sharon AI, New Era Helium will build its first 250 MW net-zero energy data center in the Permian Basin in addition to a processing plant and a gas-fired power plant. What do you think? Learn more about REC and our natural gas consulting services for AI data center operators at www.ReeseEnergyConsulting.com. For information about our expanding online natural gas training courses, visit us at www.ReeseEnergyGoesRogue.com.