OpenAI backs 8GW Ohio AI campus with jobs, grants and student Codex credits

OpenAI says it has agreed to secure roughly 8 gigawatts of IT capacity at the PORTS-Pike Technology Campus in Pike County, Ohio, in partnership with SB Energy, NVIDIA and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The project would turn a former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site into a major home for NVIDIA-based AI computing. The first 800 megawatts are expected in 2028, while the full buildout is planned through 2032. SB Energy will develop and operate the facility under a 20-year lease, with OpenAI paying as completed capacity becomes available.

Why it matters for AI builders

The scale of the agreement signals how quickly frontier-model development is driving demand for dedicated power and data-center capacity. OpenAI says the campus will support future training needs and product growth, potentially expanding the infrastructure available behind AI tools and services.

The company projects 35,000 construction jobs during the six-year buildout and 2,500 permanent operating roles. It also plans to add $40 million to SB Energy’s existing $40 million community commitment, with spending directed by local priorities such as education, health care, workforce training and small businesses.

Ohio college, community college and technical-school students could receive another practical benefit: up to $84 million in Codex credits during the 2026–2027 academic year. Approximately 844,000 eligible students aged 18 and older are slated to receive $100 each through ChatGPT, giving them access to an AI coding and technical-project tool.

OpenAI says the campus will use closed-loop, air-cooled systems to limit ongoing water demand and that the project will cover its own energy and infrastructure costs. Future phases will require new generation and transmission infrastructure. The company also promises annual reporting on hiring, investment, water use and energy use.

Source: OpenAI News