OpenAI Backs PORTS-Pike Project, $160M Investment in Ohio
Zach Anderson Aug 17, 2026 14:22
OpenAI joins PORTS-Pike project in Ohio, aiming to support AI infrastructure, create 37,500 jobs, and invest $160M in community development.
OpenAI has announced its participation in the PORTS-Pike Technology Campus project in Pike County, Ohio, marking a significant step in the development of AI infrastructure in the United States. The initiative, a collaboration with SB Energy, NVIDIA, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is projected to create 37,500 jobs and includes a $160 million investment in community development.
The PORTS-Pike project will transform the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site, a 5.4-square-mile DOE facility historically used for uranium enrichment, into a cutting-edge AI and data center campus. OpenAI has secured approximately 8 gigawatts of IT capacity at the site, aligning with its long-term frontier-training needs for advanced AI systems. The first phase, delivering 800 megawatts, is expected to come online by 2028.
The six-year buildout of the project will generate 35,000 construction jobs, with 2,500 permanent operating positions upon completion. OpenAI and SB Energy have committed to prioritizing local workers, businesses, and suppliers. Community investments include a $40 million grant fund shaped by local priorities, alongside SB Energy’s existing $40 million commitment. Additionally, OpenAI will provide $84 million in Codex credits through ChatGPT, giving approximately 844,000 Ohio college students access to AI tools for software development and technical projects during the 2026–2027 academic year.
The project also promises to address infrastructure and environmental concerns. SB Energy will fully fund necessary grid upgrades and new transmission lines, eliminating costs to Ohio ratepayers. The data center will employ closed-loop, air-cooled cooling systems to minimize water consumption, leveraging the DOE’s onsite water infrastructure and funding additional community water projects.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman highlighted the broader implications of the initiative: "This project is more than infrastructure—it's an investment in the future of AI, the local community, and American industrial innovation." NVIDIA, a key partner, will invest $1.5 billion in SB Energy and jointly develop the data center’s NVIDIA-powered AI compute infrastructure.
Redevelopment of the PORTS site has been a long-term goal for the DOE and local stakeholders, following years of environmental cleanup and decommissioning. The strategic location in rural Southern Ohio is poised to become a hub for AI-driven industrial growth, with the PORTS-Pike project representing a significant step in reindustrializing the region.
With federal support, including coverage under the FAST-41 permitting framework announced in June 2026, the project underscores a national push to modernize critical infrastructure for the AI era. Once completed, the PORTS-Pike campus will solidify its role as a cornerstone of U.S. AI capabilities, supporting tools like ChatGPT and Codex and maintaining OpenAI’s lead in frontier research.
Looking ahead, the project’s success depends on securing necessary permits, completing environmental reviews, and establishing new power generation capacity, including natural gas plants. The collaboration between OpenAI, NVIDIA, and SB Energy could serve as a blueprint for future large-scale AI infrastructure projects, offering insights into resilient design and sustainable growth.
For local residents, the initiative represents an opportunity to participate in the next chapter of American industrial progress while reaping tangible economic benefits. With $160 million in local investment and thousands of jobs on the horizon, Pike County is positioned to play a pivotal role in the global AI economy.
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