SoftBank Piketon: 10GW Data Center & 9.2GW Power Hub
Status: Approved / Groundbreaking (April 2026) | Location: Former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (DOE Land)
Project Overview
As of April 2026, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, has finalized a $33.3 billion mega project in Piketon, Ohio, transforming a former Cold War uranium enrichment site into a 10 gigawatt AI factory hub. The redevelopment turns a once strategic nuclear facility into one of the most ambitious computing campuses ever proposed. To solve the growing challenge of limited grid capacity, the project includes a 9.2 gigawatt natural gas power plant that will provide dedicated electricity for large-scale AI training systems requiring nonstop operation. In addition, SoftBank and AEP Ohio are investing $4.2 billion in new 765 kilovolt transmission infrastructure, giving the campus access to one of the strongest power networks in the country. Company leaders describe the development as a generational investment designed to host the world’s most advanced AI clusters, including systems for model training, inference, robotics, and secure government computing. The site’s existing industrial footprint and high-density transmission assets make it ideal for rapid expansion compared with undeveloped land elsewhere. Future phases are expected to support research in fusion energy, quantum computing, and advanced materials, positioning Piketon as a long-term center of innovation. For Ohio, the project could reshape the state into a national leader in technology and energy. For SoftBank, it is a major bet that infrastructure will define the next era of artificial intelligence leadership worldwide.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | SoftBank Piketon: 10GW Data Center & 9.2GW Power Hub |
| Location | Former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (DOE Land) |
| Status | Approved / Groundbreaking (April 2026) |
| Commissioning | Initial 800MW Tranche Online: 2028 |
| Total IT Load | 10.0 GW (Masterplan) |
| Total Capacity | World’s largest single-site AI compute development |
| Tier Level | Tier III+ / Tier IV (AI-Native) |
| Project Type | "Silicon-to-Grid" Giga-Scale AI Factory |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Piketon |
| Population | ~2,000 |
| Urban Agglomeration | ~65,000 (part of Pike County / Portsmouth micropolitan area) |
| City GDP | ~$120–150 million (estimated, based on local economy) |
| Per Capita Income | ~$22,000–$26,000 |
| City Tier | Tier 4 (Rural / Small Town) |
| Key Strengths | Proximity to major federal nuclear/energy facilities (PORTS site), low-cost land, emerging interest in energy and data infrastructure, access to regional transport corridors, stable utility access |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | SB Energy |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) / U.S. Dept. of Commerce. |
| Construction Contractor | SB Energy / Tier 1 Industrial EPC Partners. |
| MEP Engineering | 9.2GW Behind-the-meter generation; Grid-flexible load. |
| Network Connectivity | Ultra-dense regional fiber backbone; National security priority. |
| Power Infrastructure | 10.0 GW; Integrated 9.2GW Gas Generation + 765kV lines. |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Power Capacity | 10.0 GW |
| UPS Redundancy | $N+1$ (Scaling to $2N$ for mission-critical nodes). |
| Cooling System | Advanced Liquid Cooling (Design optimized for 10GW scale). |
| Connectivity | Core node for U.S. Sovereign AI and National Defense. |
| PUE Target | < 1.10 (Projected for new-build AI halls) |
| Energy Mix | Natural Gas-driven with future Solar/BESS integration. |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | March 20, 2026 (Official DOE Partnership) |
| Construction Start | 2026 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | 2028 |
| Full Buildout | 2035+ |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Total Investment | $33.3 Billion |
| Funding | $550B U.S.-Japan Trade Deal / SoftBank Group Capital. |