PIKETON, Ohio (RTW) — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a public-private partnership to develop a significant data center on the site of the decommissioned Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in southern Ohio. This site, now labeled as the 'PORTS Technology Campus', will support the commercial development of artificial intelligence technologies.
According to the DOE, the facility will feature a 10-gigawatt data center complemented by up to 10 gigawatts of new energy generation. This includes 9.2 gigawatts sourced from natural gas.
Earlier in the month, President Donald Trump urged tech companies at the White House to integrate their own power generation systems alongside energy-intensive operations. This Ohio complex will include both on-site and grid-connected power generation capabilities, alongside a $4.2 billion investment for grid upgrades that DOE insists will not raise costs for consumers.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright and other officials from the DOE, alongside representatives from SoftBank Group and AEP Ohio, unveiled the project on Friday, citing it as a critical step in ensuring America leads in artificial intelligence. Wright emphasized the project's dual objectives: enhancing power generation and revamping energy infrastructure while creating jobs.
Amidst the excitement, however, a group of Ohio residents has filed a petition for a statewide ballot measure that could impose a constitutional ban on mega data centers, reflecting growing concerns over the financial and environmental impacts associated with such large-scale developments.
Despite these reservations, the agreement is highlighted as part of a broader strategy outlined in the U.S.-Japan Strategic Trade and Investment Agreement, which includes significant Japanese investments in natural gas generation components. The DOE has indicated that construction on the Portsmouth project is expected to commence this year, potentially leading to thousands of new jobs in the area.
