OpenAI's Ohio mega data center complex to start construction next year, finish in five
OpenAI is set to begin construction next year on a massive data center complex in Pike County, Ohio, aiming for operation by 2031. The facility will use natural gas turbines for power and is expected to create thousands of jobs. The project faces growing backlash due to general concerns about data centers and artificial intelligence.
Officials from OpenAI are moving forward with plans for a significant data center complex in Pike County, Ohio, with construction slated to begin early next year and operations targeted for 2031. The project, located at the PORTS-Pike Technology Campus near Piketon, is expected to generate 35,000 construction jobs, with 10,000 to 12,000 workers on-site daily during peak construction, and will ultimately support 2,500 permanent positions.
The facility will be powered by natural gas turbines and is designed to provide up to 10 gigawatts of IT electrical power, significantly boosting AI computing capacity in Ohio. Chris Lehane, OpenAI's chief global affairs officer, noted "cautious optimism" from the community, despite growing concerns about data centers, artificial intelligence, and the ability of leaders to manage rapidly advancing technology.
OpenAI is partnering with SB Energy, which will build, own, and operate the data center under a 20-year lease, and Nvidia, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy. Community leaders are focused on maximizing the local economic benefits from the job creation. The project's announcement in August indicated a six-year buildout following an earlier groundbreaking.