OpenAI, Oracle Partner on Major Wisconsin Data Center Project Approaching 1GW Capacity

Major AI Infrastructure Expansion in Wisconsin

OpenAI is partnering with Oracle and Vantage Data Centers to develop a new Stargate data center cluster in Port Washington, Wisconsin, according to project announcements. The facility, codenamed “Lighthouse,” represents the fifth planned Stargate location and is expected to support “close to a gigawatt” of power capacity across four data centers.

Major AI Infrastructure Expansion in Wisconsin
Stargate Network Growing to 4.5GW Nationwide
Sustainable Development and Community Benefits
Energy Strategy and Rate Protection
Economic Impact and Job Creation

The Wisconsin site had previously been referenced by OpenAI as an “unnamed site in the Midwest” when the company disclosed plans for five Stargate data centers nationwide. Sources indicate construction will begin soon with completion targeted for 2028.

Stargate Network Growing to 4.5GW Nationwide

The Lighthouse project joins other known Stargate facilities in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, and Shackelford County, Texas, alongside the existing flagship campus in Abilene, Texas. Analysts suggest the combined US Stargate campuses are planned to eventually reach 4.5GW of IT capacity.

The Texas facility being developed by Vantage is reportedly planned as a 1.4GW campus, indicating the massive scale of OpenAI’s infrastructure expansion to support growing artificial intelligence computational demands., according to technology trends

Sustainable Development and Community Benefits

Vantage Data Centers stated it will develop only 500 of the 672 total acres at the Wisconsin site, preserving the remainder for natural biodiversity. The company plans to plant more than 2,000 native trees and create an eight-foot planted berm with native species for natural sound mitigation.

The campus will utilize closed-loop liquid cooling technology, and Vantage committed to investing in local water restoration projects to achieve water positivity. According to reports, the company will also invest a minimum of $175 million in regional infrastructure upgrades, including expanded water and wastewater treatment capacity, upgraded water mains and sewer lines, and a new water tower.

Energy Strategy and Rate Protection

Vantage stated it will deploy net-new solar, wind, and battery storage projects in partnership with WEC Energy Group. The report indicates 70% of this renewable energy will power the campus, while 30% will serve other Wisconsin customers. WEC Energy Group suggested the deployment could grow to “nearly two gigawatts.”

However, sources indicate this renewable deployment may not cover all of the campus’s power needs, with remaining electricity likely coming from fossil fuels initially, then matched with renewable energy purchases annually., according to recent innovations

With data center power consumption impacting consumer electricity prices becoming a contentious issue, Vantage emphasized it will underwrite 100% of power infrastructure investment. The company stated this approach, with a dedicated electricity rate from utility We Energies, is designed to protect other customers from price increases related to the new data center.

Economic Impact and Job Creation

The development is expected to create more than 4,000 majority-union skilled construction jobs during the building phase, with over 1,000 positions anticipated long-term. This represents significant economic opportunity for the Wisconsin region.

Peter Hoeschele, OpenAI’s vice president of industrial compute, stated that expanding Stargate to Wisconsin represents “another major step toward building the infrastructure that will help ensure everyone can benefit from AI.” He emphasized the project would create jobs, advance zero-emission energy, and boost the local economy without raising rates for local consumers.

Dana Adams, president of North America for Vantage Data Centers, noted that “as demand for data centers expands beyond traditional hubs, the upper Midwest has become a critical and strategic market.” Adams emphasized Vantage’s commitment to being “a good neighbor” and prioritizing sustainable energy investment while minimizing local impact.

The project represents a significant collaboration between Oracle Corporation, OpenAI, and Vantage Data Centers, highlighting the growing infrastructure demands of artificial intelligence technologies and their broader economic and environmental implications.

References

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Energy sector leaders are preparing for the second GIZ webinar focusing on digital transformation in asset management. The October 29 event will showcase how AI and data analytics can optimize energy infrastructure and enhance sustainability across South Africa’s energy value chain.

Digital Revolution in Energy Asset Management

The energy sector is undergoing significant transformation as digital tools and artificial intelligence reshape how infrastructure is managed, according to industry analysts. The German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), in partnership with Creamer Media, is hosting its second webinar on October 29 to explore these developments specifically within the South African context.