Nationwide Expansion Announced
OpenAI, together with Oracle and SoftBank, has revealed plans for five more data-center locations as part of its expansive Stargate initiative. The new sites are slated for Shackelford County, Texas; Doña Ana County, New Mexico; Milam County, Texas; Lordstown, Ohio; and an additional Midwestern location yet to be confirmed. These facilities are expected to raise total planned computing capacity to roughly 7 gigawatts, contributing to a program projected to channel up to $500 billion into AI infrastructure over the coming years.
Defined Roles for Each Partner
Under the plan, Oracle will lead development on three of the new centers, while SoftBank will participate in two others. The latest phase brings total Stargate commitments close to $400 billion. Company leaders say the collaboration is designed to meet the growing computational requirements of advanced AI systems, leveraging Oracle’s cloud infrastructure, SoftBank’s networking expertise, and OpenAI’s AI technology.
Economic and Infrastructure Considerations
The consortium anticipates that the projects will create tens of thousands of jobs, from construction workers to permanent operational staff. Local governments are beginning to review zoning, incentive, and utility proposals linked to the sites. Analysts note that such large-scale facilities will place significant demand on electricity and water resources, particularly in Texas and New Mexico. Despite these challenges, Stargate proponents maintain that the initiative will strengthen U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence while delivering economic benefits to the regions hosting the new centers.
