FACT SHEET: The Department of Energy is Ensuring Affordable Energy Access in Ohio While Powering the Future of AI

REVITALIZING FEDERAL LAND IN SOUTHERN OHIO TO ADVANCE ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND LOWER ENERGY PRICES

• In March 2026, the Department of Energy, alongside the Department of Commerce, announced a unique public-private partnership to ensure affordable energy for American consumers and secure U.S. leadership in the global AI race. 
  • Through this partnership, SoftBank Group and SB Energy plan to build 10 gigawatts (GW) of new power generation—including at least 9.2 GW of natural gas generation—to power 10 GW of data center development. SB Energy has also committed to making excess generation and transmission capacity available to the grid for American consumers to increase energy supply and lower energy costs. 
  • SB Energy and AEP Ohio also have partnered to build $4.2 billion in new electrical transmission infrastructure. Under the partnership, SB Energy has also committed to paying for that infrastructure, protecting Ohioans from shouldering those costs through their electrical bills.
  • The Department of Energy is leasing federal land at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Pike County, Ohio, to an SB Energy-affiliated entity for the construction of the data center campus.
    As part of this agreement, SB Energy also has committed to paying for accelerated cleanup and remediation at the Portsmouth site.
  • Portions of this agreement were previously announced as a part of President Trump’s U.S.-Japan Strategic Trade and Investment Agreement, including $33.3 billion in Japanese funding for 9.2 GW of new natural gas generation.
    Once a cornerstone of America’s national security during the Cold War—enriching uranium for our nation’s defense—the Portsmouth site is now being transformed to help the United States win the AI race. The Department of Energy is leveraging ongoing environmental cleanup and remediation of the site to position the U.S. as a global leader in AI and data center development while also ensuring tech companies pay for their own energy, keeping prices low for American families. 
  • SB Energy has also committed to a $40 million Community Benefits Agreement to support the surrounding Ohio communities. 
• This project will advance innovation and scientific discovery by developing a new large-scale technology campus data center that could support advanced research in industries such as fusion, quantum computing, as well as strengthen national defense and reinforce U.S. leadership in the global AI technology race. 

DELIVERING ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S PROMISE TO PROTECT AMERICAN CONSUMERS    

• This project aligns with President Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, ensuring Americans benefit from new data center energy infrastructure in the form of a more resilient grid and lower energy prices.
• This project delivers on President Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge by: 
  • Building, Bringing or Buying New Power: SB Energy and AEP will invest in the grid power, and SB Energy will build new gas-fired generation that will benefit both the facility and the surrounding region.
  • Paying for New Power Delivery Infrastructure: SB Energy will invest $4.2 billion with AEP Ohio to upgrade and build new transmission lines in southern Ohio to benefit all ratepayers in the region.
  • Paying Whether They Use the Power or Not: SB Energy and AEP will agree to a dedicated data center rate structure, ensuring the cost of new power plants and transmission lines is paid by the project itself, not Ohioan families or small businesses. 
  • Investing in Local Job Creation and Workforce Development: This project will deliver thousands of construction and operational jobs and revitalize the domestic manufacturing base that will support the project.
  • Contributing to Electric and Community Reliance: The project will temporarily reduce its electricity use or provide backup power to the local grid during emergencies or major weather events.

LOWERING ELECTRICITY PRICES AND CREATING A MORE RESILIENT GRID THROUGH TRANSMISSION AND GRID UPGRADES

• This project delivers on President Trump’s promise to protect American consumers from utility price increases from data center construction. 
  • The critical investment of $4.2 billion dollars invested through SB Energy and AEP Ohio will upgrade and build new high-voltage transmission lines in Southern Ohio, to keep electricity costs low for American families and businesses and modernize and improve the grid.
  • These investments will pay for the construction of new 765 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines and four substations, improving regional electrical reliability, while the new interstate gas pipeline development will support additional generation.
  • This agreement will provide 10 GW of new compute power, including 9.2 GW of new natural gas generation.
  • Long-lead items have already been secured, including high-voltage electrical equipment.

CREATING THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN OHIO 

• Revitalizing the Portsmouth site will support the Southern Ohio economy by creating thousands of long-term local jobs.
  • More than 10,000 construction jobs are expected over 4 years supporting union and skilled trade workers across power plant, interstate gas pipeline, transmission, substation, and data center construction.
  • More than 2,000 operational jobs will support custodial, electrical, facilities, maintenance, engineering, and technical roles.  
  • Tens of thousands of additional indirect jobs are expected across the region in manufacturing and service industries.