OpenAI in Talks to Lease Giant Ohio Data Center; Nvidia May Provide Financial Support
OpenAI is negotiating to lease a 10GW data center campus on federal land in Ohio. Nvidia may provide financial support. Construction costs could reach $500 billion, with the first phase expected in 2028.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 10, 2026 at 14:52
- 🔍 Collected: June 10, 2026 at 15:03 (11 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 10, 2026 at 15:04 (0 min after Collected)
U.S. tech media The Information, citing sources, reported that AI leader OpenAI is in talks to lease a data center campus with a planned capacity of 10GW (gigawatts) on federal land in Ohio.
The report also said the deal could receive financial support from chip giant Nvidia.
According to The Information, based on current costs for chips, labor, power, and other inputs, the construction cost of the campus could be at least $500 billion.
The report added that under the 20-year lease agreement, OpenAI would control the facility's equipment and begin paying rent after it becomes operational. The first phase is expected to launch in 2028.
The facility, which would be the largest of its kind, will be developed by SoftBank's SB Energy on Department of Energy land in southern Ohio.
According to the report, Nvidia is expected to provide hardware for the facility and offer financial guarantees for OpenAI's lease and SB Energy's financing.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. OpenAI and Nvidia did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment outside of business hours.
Earlier this year, the ChatGPT developer paused its planned 'Stargate' data center project in the UK due to regulatory hurdles and high energy costs.
Separately, Reuters reported this week that Apollo and Blackstone are financing a $35 billion AI capacity expansion plan for Anthropic that uses Broadcom chips.
The report also said the deal could receive financial support from chip giant Nvidia.
According to The Information, based on current costs for chips, labor, power, and other inputs, the construction cost of the campus could be at least $500 billion.
The report added that under the 20-year lease agreement, OpenAI would control the facility's equipment and begin paying rent after it becomes operational. The first phase is expected to launch in 2028.
The facility, which would be the largest of its kind, will be developed by SoftBank's SB Energy on Department of Energy land in southern Ohio.
According to the report, Nvidia is expected to provide hardware for the facility and offer financial guarantees for OpenAI's lease and SB Energy's financing.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. OpenAI and Nvidia did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment outside of business hours.
Earlier this year, the ChatGPT developer paused its planned 'Stargate' data center project in the UK due to regulatory hurdles and high energy costs.
Separately, Reuters reported this week that Apollo and Blackstone are financing a $35 billion AI capacity expansion plan for Anthropic that uses Broadcom chips.
FAQ
Where is this data center located?
On federal Department of Energy land in southern Ohio, USA.
What is the construction cost?
Estimated at up to $500 billion.
Who is developing it?
SB Energy, a subsidiary of SoftBank.