SoftBank's Ambitious $500 Billion AI Data Center Project in Ohio

SoftBank Group Corp. has announced plans to construct a massive artificial intelligence (AI) data center complex in Piketon, Ohio, with an estimated investment of $500 billion. This initiative, which is part of a broader $550 billion U.S.-Japan trade agreement, aims to leverage the site of a decommissioned uranium enrichment plant, the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The project is expected to generate up to 10 gigawatts of power, sufficient to supply millions of homes, and will include a significant natural gas-fired power generation component.

Associated PressSoftBank Plans $500 Billion Ohio Data Center Hub, the Piketon AI Data Center ComplexSoftBank plans $33 billion AI data center powered by natural gas By Investing.comSoftbank Group’s Son unveils USD500 billion AI data centre investment in OhioBloombergSoftBank's Son Unveils $500 Billion AI Data Center Plan in Ohio

The data center will be developed in phases, with the first phase projected to cost between $30 billion and $40 billion and to deliver approximately 800 megawatts of capacity by early 2028. The overall project aims to create thousands of jobs, including over 2,000 permanent operational positions. The power infrastructure will involve a $33 billion investment in natural gas generation, with 9.2 gigawatts of capacity sourced from turbines distributed across the region.

SoftBank Plans $500 Billion Ohio Data Center Hub, the Piketon AI Data Center ComplexSoftBank plans $33 billion AI data center powered by natural gas By Investing.comBloombergAssociated PressSoftbank Group’s Son unveils USD500 billion AI data centre investment in OhioSoftBank's Son Unveils $500 Billion AI Data Center Plan in Ohio

Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized that the project would "add power generation, create jobs, and ensure the United States wins the AI race." Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described it as part of a broader effort to "reindustrialize the country" through large-scale energy and infrastructure projects. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is facilitating the project by providing long-term leases for the federal land.

Associated Press

Despite the ambitious plans, opposition is growing among local residents and environmental advocates. A group of rural Ohio residents has filed a petition to place a constitutional ban on mega data centers on the statewide ballot, citing concerns over environmental, financial, and societal impacts. Critics argue that the rapid expansion of data centers could exacerbate issues related to water and electricity costs.

Associated Press

While the scale of the project has been touted as unprecedented, some industry experts have expressed skepticism regarding its feasibility. Concerns have been raised about the lack of notification to local regulators and grid operators about such a large-scale initiative. Additionally, the timeline for construction and the actual power generation capabilities remain subjects of scrutiny.

SoftBank Plans $500 Billion Ohio Data Center Hub, the Piketon AI Data Center Complex

Construction on the Portsmouth project is expected to begin in mid-2026, with the first phase aiming for completion by early 2028. The project is anticipated to support advanced research in fields such as fusion energy and quantum computing, while also contributing excess power back to the grid to help lower electricity costs in the region.

SoftBank Plans $500 Billion Ohio Data Center Hub, the Piketon AI Data Center Complex

• “We are going to do the largest construction project in the country,” — Howard Lutnick, Commerce Secretary

Bloomberg

• “As a single-location investment, this will be the largest in human history and will be bigger than all existing AI data centers combined,” — Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp.

SoftBank's Son Unveils $500 Billion AI Data Center Plan in Ohio

• “add power generation, create jobs, and ensure the United States wins the AI race,” — Chris Wright, Energy Secretary

Associated Press