DOE Announces 10-Gigawatt Data Center and Power Complex in Ohio

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a collaboration with SoftBank Group and AEP Ohio to establish a substantial data center and power generation facility at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Pike County, Ohio. The initiative aims to repurpose the decommissioned uranium enrichment site into the "PORTS Technology Campus," featuring a 10-gigawatt data center and up to 10 gigawatts of new power generation capacity, including 9.2 gigawatts from natural gas sources.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the project would "add power generation, create jobs, and ensure the United States wins the AI race." Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described it as part of a broader effort to "reindustrialize the country" through large-scale energy and infrastructure projects.

SoftBank, through its affiliate SB Energy, is partnering with AEP Ohio to build the power generation and transmission infrastructure. This includes a $4.2 billion investment in grid upgrades and new transmission lines, which the companies assert will not increase customer rates. The project is part of the U.S.-Japan Strategic Trade and Investment Agreement announced last year, encompassing $33.3 billion in Japanese funding tied to the natural gas generation component.

Construction is expected to commence this year, creating thousands of jobs and supporting research in areas such as fusion energy, quantum computing, and national security applications. Excess power capacity generated at the site will be fed back into the grid to help lower electricity costs in the region.

The announcement follows recent developments in Ohio's data center industry. In July 2025, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved AEP Ohio's Data Center Tariff, establishing financial obligations for data centers to support infrastructure investments and protect other customers from cost-shifting risks. As of February 2026, AEP Ohio has signed binding contracts with data centers for 5,642 megawatts under the new tariff, in addition to 12,219 megawatts of contracts signed before the tariff's implementation.

The DOE's initiative aligns with the Trump administration's push for commercial development of artificial intelligence technology and the establishment of large-scale data centers on federal land. The Portsmouth project is among several DOE sites identified for such development, aiming to bolster the nation's AI capabilities and infrastructure.