OpenAI announces plans to lease much of a proposed data center campus in Pike County
OpenAI plans to lease a significant portion of a proposed 10-gigawatt data center campus in Pike County, Ohio, being developed by SB Energy. The project, expected to be one of the largest in the nation, will involve substantial investment, job creation, and dedicated infrastructure for power and water. Both companies have pledged $40 million each towards a community grant fund.
OpenAI has announced plans to lease approximately 8 gigawatts of a proposed 10-gigawatt data center campus in Pike County, Ohio, which could become one of the largest in the United States. SB Energy, a SoftBank subsidiary, is developing the campus near Piketon on a site that includes private land parcels around a former uranium enrichment plant. SB Energy secured land options and aims to begin construction in October, with the first 800 megawatts expected by 2028.
The project involves a 20-year lease agreement where SB Energy will build, own, and operate the data centers, hosting Nvidia AI hardware and software infrastructure. Nvidia will invest $1.5 billion in SB Energy and provide credit support. The initiative is projected to create 35,000 construction jobs over six years and 2,500 long-term operating jobs, with a commitment to prioritize local workers and generate hundreds of millions in state and local tax revenue.
Addressing common concerns about data centers, OpenAI stated that SB Energy will cover all costs for grid upgrades and new transmission lines, preventing cost shifts to ratepayers. The campus plans to primarily use the existing grid initially, later supported by new power plants and transmission lines, including SB Energy's proposed 9-gigawatt natural gas generation. The data centers will feature a closed-loop, air-cooled system to minimize water consumption, and OpenAI will fund new water infrastructure in partnership with local communities.
OpenAI has pledged a $40 million community investment, matching a similar contribution from SB Energy, to support local priorities such as schools, public safety, healthcare, and workforce training. The company commits to publishing annual reports on its progress, including local hiring, resource use, and community investments, and will work with local groups to establish an "Ohio Community Compact" reflecting resident priorities.