In brief
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced an ambitious project to develop a 10-gigawatt data center at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Ohio. This initiative, backed by SoftBank and AEP Ohio, aims to enhance power generation and bolster the U.S. position in artificial intelligence technology. The project includes significant investments in infrastructure and grid upgrades, while also addressing community concerns about environmental impacts from large-scale data facilities.
PIKETON, Ohio (AP) — The U.S. Department of Energy announced a significant public-private partnership on Friday to establish a state-of-the-art data center powered by its own electricity supply at the site of the decommissioned uranium enrichment plant in Pike County, Ohio. This initiative aligns with the United States' growing focus on artificial intelligence technology.
The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site, now referred to as the 'PORTS Technology Campus,' is set to feature a massive 10-gigawatt data center coupled with up to 10 gigawatts of new power generation capabilities, primarily from natural gas, according to the DOE.
This project is part of a wider effort initiated last year, highlighting 16 federal locations where technology companies could invest in data management and storage infrastructure. President Donald Trump had previously encouraged tech firms to develop independent power production facilities alongside their energy-intensive operations. The Ohio project will incorporate both on-site and grid-connected power solutions, including extensive transmission system upgrades worth multiple billions.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright, alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, attended the announcement in Piketon. Their statement emphasized job creation and strategic advancements in AI, while also noting the infrastructure will not raise customer rates due to the partnership with SoftBank Group and AEP Ohio.
In light of this development, a local group has pushed for a constitutional amendment to ban mega-data centers, reflecting concerns among residents about the environmental and social consequences of such facilities. Ohio ranks fifth in the U.S. for data centers, hosting around 200 sites, including major contributions from companies like Google, Amazon Web Services, and Meta.
The new initiative will not only support AI advancements but also explore future technologies like fusion energy and quantum computing, promising to feed surplus energy back to the grid, thus lowering regional electricity costs. Construction for the Portsmouth facility is expected to commence this year, marking a pivotal moment in U.S. energy infrastructure and technological innovation.
