OpenAI, Nvidia, and Japanese investors are planning to construct one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence datacenters in Pike County in southern Ohio, with an estimated investment of $500 billion. The project broke ground in March with participation from federal energy and commerce officials. The facility, which will be owned and operated by SB Energy, a subsidiary of Japanese bank SoftBank Group Corp., is slated to open in 2028 and will provide 8 gigawatts of AI computing capacity.
The project is generating competing sentiments in the local community. Piketon’s mayor of 23 years expressed mixed feelings, noting an absence of organized public opposition despite the scale of the undertaking. The prospect of an estimated 35,000 construction jobs and 2,500 permanent positions appeals to residents in Pike County, where the poverty rate exceeds 19%, nearly double the national average. A nearby natural gas power plant, to be funded through a $33 billion Japanese investment, will supply the datacenter’s substantial energy requirements.
The initiative emerged partly from the Trump administration’s tariff and reshoring policies. In July 2025, Japan agreed to invest $550 billion in the United States in exchange for reduced tariffs on Japanese products. However, this political dependency creates uncertainty, as future administrations could alter tariff policies and diminish Japanese investment incentives.
Environmental and public health concerns complicate the picture. The project partially sits on a decommissioned uranium enrichment facility that operated until 2001, and Pike County residents have historically attributed elevated cancer rates and other health issues to the site’s operations. Environmental groups warn that the proposed natural gas plant could become the nation’s largest, potentially releasing millions of pounds of noxious chemicals including carbon monoxide, dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. Water usage concerns have also emerged, with reports suggesting up to two million gallons may be required during construction. SB Energy has stated it will conduct thorough site reviews and fund accelerated cleanup efforts. OpenAI announced a $40 million community grant fund and pledged to provide ChatGPT credits to Ohio college students.
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