The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a significant public-private partnership on Friday, March 20, 2026, to establish a major data center with an integrated power supply at the site of a decommissioned uranium enrichment plant in Piketon, Ohio. This initiative, part of a broader push for commercial development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, will transform the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Pike County into what is now being branded as the “PORTS Technology Campus.”

The ambitious project envisions a 10-gigawatt data center coupled with up to 10 gigawatts of new power generation capacity, including a substantial 9.2 gigawatts from natural gas. This facility combines both on-site and grid-connected power generation, along with billions of dollars allocated for transmission upgrades. The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant was previously identified on a list of 16 federal sites last year where the department sought technology companies to build data management and storage infrastructure, aligning with President Donald Trump's earlier call for tech companies to commit to developing their own power generation alongside electricity-intensive sites.

The partnership involves the DOE, SoftBank Group — a Japanese investment management company — through its affiliate SB Energy, and AEP Ohio. SoftBank, via SB Energy, is collaborating with AEP Ohio to construct the necessary power generation and transmission infrastructure, which includes a $4.2 billion investment in grid upgrades and new transmission lines. The companies assert these upgrades will not result in increased customer rates. This project is also framed as a key component of the U.S.-Japan Strategic Trade and Investment Agreement announced by Trump last year, with the DOE confirming $33.3 billion in Japanese funding specifically tied to the natural gas generation component.

High-ranking officials, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, were present in Piketon for the announcement, alongside SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son. Secretary Wright emphasized the project's role in adding power generation, creating jobs, and ensuring the United States' leadership in the AI race. Secretary Lutnick echoed this sentiment, describing the initiative as integral to a broader effort to “reindustrialize the country” through large-scale energy and infrastructure projects.

However, the announcement comes amidst growing local opposition. Just days prior, a group of rural Ohio residents filed a petition to place a constitutional ban on mega data centers on the statewide ballot, joining a chorus of critics concerned about the environmental, financial, and societal costs associated with AI development. Ohio currently ranks fifth nationally for data centers, hosting approximately 200 sites, including facilities operated by tech giants like Google, Amazon Web Services, and Meta, according to the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel.

This venture also connects to SoftBank’s broader strategic initiatives in artificial intelligence infrastructure. SoftBank is collaborating with OpenAI and Oracle on “Stargate,” an ambitious AI infrastructure project aimed at building out extensive U.S. data center capacity to support AI, potentially involving a $500 billion investment. Last fall, the three companies indicated that a site in the Midwest would be part of their partnership.

Construction on the Portsmouth project is slated to commence this year, with expectations to generate thousands of jobs. Beyond its primary function, the campus is projected to support research in critical areas such as fusion energy, quantum computing, and national security applications. Officials also anticipate that any excess power capacity generated at the site will be fed back into the regional grid, contributing to lower electricity costs for consumers in the area.