OpenAI joins PORTS-Pike project
OpenAI has secured approximately 8 gigawatts-IT 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 is expected to create 35,000 construction jobs through 2032 and 2,500 long-term operating jobs. OpenAI will invest $40 million in a community fund, provide $84 million in Codex credits for Ohio college students, and commit to responsible water use and covering energy infrastructure costs.
It is remarkable how an initiative to build AI infrastructure can transform both humanity and the planet itself. Is it possible we are standing at the beginning of a revolution, just as we were during the Industrial Revolution, the discovery of steam power, electricity, and the internet? Today, if you have a space that is ideally sized, abandoned, and has good power supply options, investors will break down your door because it is the ideal location for building an AI data center. Just like this former uranium mine where approximately 8 gigawatts of IT will be created in the PORTS-Pike technology campus in Pike County, Ohio.
What are the main specifications of the PORTS-Pike data center?
The project will deliver approximately 8 gigawatts-IT capacity, with the first 800 megawatts expected by 2028. The data center is being built on the site of the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, which previously served American industry and national security.
What employment impact is expected from the project?
The project is projected to create 35,000 construction jobs during its six-year buildout through 2032 and 2,500 long-term operating positions. OpenAI has committed to prioritizing local workers, contractors, suppliers, and service providers.
What are OpenAI's guiding principles for this investment?
OpenAI has committed to the project paying its own energy and infrastructure costs, using water responsibly through closed-loop cooling systems, investing $40 million in community benefits shaped by local priorities, and creating good jobs with workforce pathways for residents.
How will Ohio college students benefit from this project?
OpenAI will provide up to $84 million in Codex credits to approximately 844,000 eligible Ohio college, community college, and technical school students, giving each $100 in credits to use OpenAI's Codex tool for building software and developing technical skills.
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