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Ohio Plant Powers AI Future
21 Mar
Summary
- A major data center with its own power supply will be built.
- The project is located on a decommissioned uranium enrichment plant site.
- It's a public-private partnership between the US and Japan.
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced a significant public-private partnership to develop a major data center with integrated power generation on the site of the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in southern Ohio. This initiative is poised to significantly advance artificial intelligence technology.
The site, now branded as the "PORTS Technology Campus," will host a 10-gigawatt data center, supported by up to 10 gigawatts of new power generation, including substantial natural gas facilities. This development is part of the U.S.-Japan Strategic Trade and Investment Agreement.
SoftBank Group, through its affiliate SB Energy, is partnering with AEP Ohio to construct the necessary power and transmission infrastructure. This includes an investment of $4.2 billion in grid upgrades, intended not to increase customer rates. The initiative involves $33.3 billion in Japanese funding linked to the natural gas power component.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated the project will "add power generation, create jobs, and ensure the United States wins the AI race." This venture comes as some rural Ohio residents express concerns about the environmental and financial impacts of large data centers, with Ohio already a significant hub for such facilities.
Construction is slated to begin this year, promising thousands of jobs and supporting research in fusion energy and quantum computing. Excess power generated will be fed into the regional grid, potentially lowering electricity costs.
