OpenAI joins PORTS-Pike project

OpenAI has partnered with SB Energy, NVIDIA, and the U.S. Department of Energy to build a major data center (a facility that stores and processes large amounts of data) at PORTS-Pike in Pike County, Ohio, securing approximately 8 gigawatts of power. The project aims to create 35,000 construction jobs through 2032 and 2,500 permanent operating jobs while investing $80 million in community grants and $84 million in Codex credits (pre-paid access to AI tools) for Ohio college students. The facility will use water-efficient cooling systems and pay its own energy and infrastructure costs without shifting expenses to local ratepayers.