US Commerce and Energy Departments back SoftBank's 10 GW Ohio AI data center project
A new public-private partnership will redevelop former DOE land in Southern Ohio, pairing a 10 GW SoftBank data center with $4.2 billion in AEP Ohio grid upgrades.
The U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Energy announced a public-private partnership with SoftBank and AEP Ohio to redevelop federal land, modernize energy infrastructure, and build advanced computing capacity in Southern Ohio.
A 10 GW build on former DOE land
Under the plan, SB Energy — a SoftBank Group company — will build 10 gigawatts of new power generation, including 9.2 GW of natural gas generation, connecting to the local grid to supply a new 10 GW data center development at the Portsmouth Site in Pike County, Ohio. The site was formerly used by the Department of Energy for uranium enrichment and has since been the focus of environmental cleanup and redevelopment efforts.
Grid investment alongside the build
Separately from the generation project, SB Energy is investing $4.2 billion together with AEP Ohio to upgrade existing transmission lines and build new ones across Southern Ohio. Officials described the combined effort as intended to deliver lower electricity costs across the region, support job creation, and strengthen domestic computing capacity as AI infrastructure demand grows nationally.
Development on the project is expected to begin in late 2026, under Department of Energy oversight of the underlying federal site.
Key takeaways
- SB Energy, a SoftBank Group company, plans 10 GW of new power generation, including 9.2 GW of natural gas capacity.
- The power will supply a new 10 GW data center at the Portsmouth Site in Pike County, Ohio.
- SB Energy is investing $4.2 billion with AEP Ohio to upgrade and build new transmission lines in the region.
- Development is set to begin in late 2026 on land the Department of Energy previously used for uranium enrichment.
FAQ
Why was this specific site in Ohio chosen?
The project reuses federal land at the former Portsmouth Site, a DOE uranium enrichment facility in Pike County that has been undergoing environmental cleanup and redevelopment.
Who pays for the new power generation and grid upgrades?
According to the departments' announcement, SB Energy is funding the new generation and, together with AEP Ohio, the $4.2 billion transmission investment — officials said this is designed to connect to the local grid at no cost to American families.
Sources
- Commerce and Energy Departments Announce Partnership to Ensure Affordable Energy and Power America's AI Future — U.S. Department of Commerce
- Energy Department Announces Partnership to Ensure Affordable Energy and Power America's AI Future — U.S. Department of Energy