OpenAI plans giant Ohio data center – Nvidia backs $105 billion
8 gigawatts in Ohio: OpenAI leases a mega campus from SoftBank's SB Energy, with Nvidia guaranteeing up to $105 billion in payments.
Illustration · AI-generated (AI IN LIFE)
At a glance
- 8 gigawatts of IT capacity, ten-year lease with SB Energy (SoftBank)
- Nvidia guarantees up to $105B in lease and power payment obligations
- Nvidia additionally invests $1.5B directly in SB Energy
- Initial capacity from 2028; 35,000 construction jobs, 2,500 permanent roles
- Planned: 10 GW of new energy generation, including 9.2 GW gas-fired
OpenAI has announced a ten-year lease for a massive data center in central Ohio – built and owned by SB Energy, a subsidiary of Japan's SoftBank. The campus is set to deliver 8 gigawatts of IT capacity, with initial capacity available from 2028, according to Axios.
Nvidia supplies the most striking number: the chipmaker will guarantee up to $105 billion in conditional lease and power payment obligations to SB Energy and becomes the project's exclusive chip provider. On top of that, Nvidia is investing $1.5 billion directly in SB Energy, Reuters reports.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang pushed back on criticism of the financing structure: "Is this circular financing? No. OpenAI will pay the lease," he said, per CNBC, adding that Nvidia is leveraging its scale and long-term visibility to enable the project.
The site spans private land and a former federal uranium enrichment property. Alongside the server halls, 10 gigawatts of new energy generation are planned – ultimately including 9.2 gigawatts of gas-fired power. The build-out is expected to create 35,000 construction jobs and 2,500 permanent operating positions.
The project is funded under the 2025 trade and investment deal between Japan and the US government. For OpenAI, Ohio is its largest single site to date – and further proof that the race for compute is increasingly decided by energy and credit questions.
FAQ
Who builds and owns the data center?
SB Energy, a SoftBank subsidiary, builds and owns the Ohio campus; OpenAI leases it for ten years.
What is Nvidia's role?
Nvidia is the exclusive chip provider, guarantees up to $105B in payment obligations, and invests $1.5B in SB Energy.
When does the site go live?
Initial capacity is slated for 2028, with 8 gigawatts of IT capacity planned in total.
