NVIDIA to Power OpenAI’s Massive AI Data Center in Ohio
Quick Reads
- NVIDIA will provide the AI computing infrastructure for OpenAI’s Ohio project.
- The data center is being developed by SB Energy in Southern Ohio.
- The project is expected to create thousands of jobs.
- SB Energy has committed $40 million to local community programs.
- The campus will be built in phases, starting with an 800-megawatt facility.
The race to build the infrastructure needed for artificial intelligence is getting bigger, with NVIDIA set to provide the AI computing infrastructure for OpenAI at SB Energy’s PORTS Technology Campus in Southern Ohio.
The project is being developed in Pike County on and around the former U.S. Department of Energy Portsmouth site. The first phase is expected to begin construction in 2026, with 800 megawatts planned for the initial buildout. The wider campus is designed to scale much further.
OpenAI will be the customer for the facility, while NVIDIA will supply the computing infrastructure needed to run large-scale AI systems. Reuters reports that the broader campus could eventually reach 8 gigawatts of capacity, highlighting the enormous amount of computing power required as AI adoption grows.
The project is also expected to have a major economic impact on Southern Ohio. SB Energy says the campus could create about 35,000 construction jobs and 2,500 operating jobs. The company has also committed $40 million to community programs through a community benefits agreement.
Beyond jobs, the project includes major investments in electricity infrastructure. SB Energy says it will fund the grid upgrades connected to the campus, while the broader development includes billions of dollars in new energy and transmission infrastructure.
For OpenAI, the Ohio campus represents another major step in securing the computing capacity needed to support the next generation of AI. For NVIDIA, it strengthens its position as a key infrastructure provider behind the rapidly expanding AI industry.
