In the Appalachian foothills of southern Ohio, a $500 billion project is underway to build one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence datacenters. The site in Piketon will host 8GW of AI computing power, with OpenAI, Nvidia, and Japanese investors involved.

Last March, energy secretary Chris Wright, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, and Japanese dignitaries attended the groundbreaking ceremony. SB Energy, a subsidiary of Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp., will own and operate the facility, with OpenAI signing a 20-year lease to use its computing capacity.

The project is expected to generate 35,000 construction jobs and 2,500 long-term operating jobs. The datacenter will cover approximately 640 acres, about three-fourths the size of New York City’s Central Park.

Locally, reactions are mixed. Billy Spencer, Piketon’s mayor for 23 years, described his feelings as "between positive and skeptical." He noted that no residents have approached the village council to discuss the project.

SB Energy, headquartered in Redwood City, California, has assured that Ohio ratepayers will not bear the costs of connecting the facility to the local electricity grid. Additional electricity produced at the associated natural gas plant will be fed back into the local grid, potentially lowering costs for customers.

However, concerns linger. In 2019, a local middle school closed due to high radiation levels detected in the building. Environmental groups have voiced worries about the project’s impact.

Political uncertainty also clouds the future. A new administration after the 2028 presidential election could end tariffs imposed during the Trump era, possibly diminishing Japanese investment incentives.

The datacenter project highlights a complex balance of economic opportunity and local apprehension in Piketon and the wider Ohio community.

Sources