Massive Infrastructure Effort Expands
OpenAI, together with partners Oracle and SoftBank, confirmed a major expansion of the Stargate initiative, revealing five additional data-center projects across the United States. The facilities are planned for Shackelford County in Texas, Doña Ana County in New Mexico, Milam County in Texas, Lordstown in Ohio, and another Midwestern site still to be identified. With these additions, the consortium says Stargate will reach close to 7 gigawatts of computing capacity, part of a long-term vision that could channel as much as $500 billion into AI infrastructure.
Division of Responsibilities
According to the announcement, Oracle will take charge of developing three of the new campuses, while SoftBank will co-lead two others. The partners say combined spending across the program is approaching $400 billion, underscoring the scale of the venture. Executives framed the effort as critical to supporting the next generation of artificial intelligence models, with Oracle contributing cloud infrastructure expertise and SoftBank bolstering global network deployment.
Jobs and Local Impact
Project backers predict that the construction and operation of these data hubs will generate tens of thousands of jobs nationwide. Local authorities are still reviewing permits, utility connections, and incentive packages tied to the buildouts. Analysts point out that the electricity demand of such large-scale sites will put new pressure on regional grids, especially in Texas and New Mexico, and raise questions about water use for cooling. Supporters argue the Stargate initiative strengthens the country’s position in AI development while bringing new economic activity to host communities.
