OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank Announce 5 New AI Data Centers in U.S.
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OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank announced five U.S. data-center sites on Sept. 23, 2025, expanding the Stargate artificial-intelligence infrastructure program to nearly 7 gigawatts of planned capacity. The sites are in Shackelford County, Texas; Doña Ana County, New Mexico; Lordstown, Ohio; Milam County, Texas; and a Midwest location later identified as Wisconsin. OpenAI said the five sites, Abilene, Texas, and CoreWeave projects represented more than $400 billion in planned investment over three years. The companies initially said the two SoftBank-linked sites could scale to 1.5 gigawatts within 18 months. OpenAI’s announcement said the broader Stargate goal was $500 billion and 10 gigawatts of U.S. infrastructure. The supplied story is materially misdated: the five-site announcement occurred in September 2025, not August 2026. More recent developments have changed the landscape, including an Ohio data-center lease backed by Nvidia announced Aug. 17, 2026. No new five-site announcement was located in the final freshness search.
More context
Timeline
- On January 21, 2025, Stargate launched with $500 billion commitment.
- On July 22, 2025, Oracle added 4.5 gigawatts additional capacity.
- On September 23, 2025, five new Stargate sites were announced.
- On October 22, 2025, Wisconsin became the Midwest Stargate site.
- On January 9, 2026, SB Energy partnership expanded Stargate infrastructure.
- On April 29, 2026, OpenAI said Stargate surpassed initial goals.
- On August 17, 2026, Nvidia backed another massive Ohio facility.
- On August 23, 2026, no new five-site announcement was found.
- Over coming months, additional U.S. Stargate sites may still emerge.
- Over coming years, grid capacity increasingly constrains data-center expansion nationwide.
Why it matters
Immediate US impact: Five planned sites expand U.S. AI capacity and construction activity. Possible long-term US impact: Large-scale buildout could reshape electricity demand, jobs, infrastructure, and investment. Reader priority: Readers should prioritize dated primary announcements and independently reported updates. Most Affected: Texas, Ohio, New Mexico communities, utilities, workers, investors face impacts.
Coverage notes
Left: Left coverage emphasized environmental costs, financing risks, and community concerns. Center: Center coverage emphasized announced sites, capacity figures, partners, and timelines. Right: Right coverage emphasized American competitiveness, jobs, investment, and China competition.
Primary report
September 23, 2025, OpenAI published announcement detailing five new sites.
Sources
- WIRED
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- DIGITIMES
- Benzinga
- South China Morning Post
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- First Financial
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
