OpenAI is actively exploring the United States for locations to establish a series of expansive data centers aimed at enhancing its artificial intelligence capabilities. This effort extends beyond its primary facility in Texas, with the company examining options across 16 different states as part of the ambitious Stargate initiative, which has garnered support from former President Donald Trump.
The organization, known for developing ChatGPT, has issued a call for proposals to find suitable land, power sources, engineers, and architects, initiating site visits in states like Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin earlier this week. After Trump re-entered the White House last month, he praised the Stargate venture, a collaboration that includes OpenAI, Oracle, and Softbank. This partnership has pledged an investment of $100 billion initially, with the potential to reach $500 billion, to develop large-scale data facilities and the necessary energy infrastructure to facilitate AI advancement. Trump labeled the initiative as a definitive affirmation of the United States’ capabilities under his administration, although construction on the initial project in Abilene, Texas, has been underway for several months.
Elon Musk, a Trump advisor and vocal opponent of OpenAI, has publicly expressed skepticism regarding the financial implications of the Stargate project. Following Trump’s announcement, several states have approached OpenAI, offering to accommodate additional data centers, according to Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s vice president of global affairs.
The company’s request for proposals emphasizes the need for sites close to essential infrastructure akin to power and water resources. The substantial energy consumption associated with AI, which largely relies on fossil fuels, contributes to climate change. Additionally, data centers generally require significant water for cooling purposes. In response to these concerns, some tech giants have begun investing in nuclear energy solutions for their data requirements.
While OpenAI’s proposal does not specify a preference for renewable energy sources such as wind or solar, it requests that electricity providers present strategies for managing carbon emissions and water usage. Keith Heyde, director of OpenAI’s infrastructure strategy, mentioned that the organization is considering locations where they can assist in developing new power sources, whether through the deployment of natural gas or alternative methods.
The initial project in Texas is situated in a region identified by Abilene Mayor Weldon Hurt as rich in diverse energy resources, including wind, solar, and natural gas. This description aligns with the project being built by a company that started its construction in June, showcasing the same two prominent buildings highlighted by CEO Sam Altman in a recent drone video.
Chase Lochmiller, the CEO of Crusoe, indicated that their project significantly integrates wind energy while also incorporating a gas-fired generator as a backup. “We strive to situate data centers in areas where we can harness inexpensive, clean, and plentiful energy resources,” Lochmiller expressed, noting that West Texas is one of the most consistently windy and sunny regions in the U.S. He anticipates that the Trump administration, despite the president’s reservations toward wind energy, will pragmatically support wind-powered data centers—especially if they represent the most economical energy solution.
Currently, data centers are projected to account for approximately 4.4% of total U.S. electricity consumption in 2023, potentially increasing to between 6.7% and 12% by 2028, according to research from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Beyond Texas, OpenAI is scouting additional sites in states such as Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. Heyde stated that the company intends to construct between five to ten campuses, based on the scale of each site.
Previously, OpenAI predominantly depended on Microsoft to meet its computing demands. However, the two organizations have recently restructured their partnership, allowing OpenAI to independently pursue data center development initiatives.
