SoftBank plans to build a 10-gigawatt AI data center in Ohio for $33 billion

SoftBank is planning to build a massive AI data center in Ohio that can draw up to 10 gigawatts of power, according to a Bloomberg report.

The facility will be developed on federally owned land at a former uranium enrichment site, and the first phase is expected to cost between $30 billion and $40 billion, with a generating capacity of 800 megawatts in early 2028.

To support the construction, Softbank is providing approximately 33 billion dollars in natural gas power infrastructure, and the turbines are expected to be deployed in the region by the end of the decade. A total of 9.2 gigawatts of planned generating capacity would rival some of the largest power projects in the US.

The scale reflects demand for AI infrastructure, as hyperscalers and governments scramble to ensure computational and energy capacity. A 10-gigawatt data center consumes energy comparable to millions of homes, putting pressure on networks struggling to keep up with AI-driven demand.

The project is tied to a $550 billion US-Japan investment framework that includes energy and industrial infrastructure and comes as policymakers push to ensure domestic capacity in the global AI race.

SoftBank has not yet announced customers for the site, but said partners will be involved in sourcing chips and devices. The company is working with local utilities to improve transmission infrastructure, with nearly $4.2 billion allocated for grid expansion.

The proposal highlights the growing tension surrounding the use of AI energy. Data center expansion has sparked complaints in some parts of the US over increased demand for electricity and water, even as governments prioritize building capacity to compete with China's advanced technologies.