WAVERLY, Ohio - A massive power plant to serve what government and company officials call the country's largest data center campus is moving forward in southern Ohio, with SB Energy targeting completion in about six years and projecting up to $500 billion in economic impact for the state.
The project, known as PORTS-Pike Energy Center, would generate roughly 10 gigawatts of electricity, most of it from natural gas turbines. Construction alone could require about 35,000 workers - roughly the population of Upper Arlington - along with new roads, gas lines, and other infrastructure upgrades.
Land buyouts and resident concerns
At an open house held Aug. 27 at the Pike County YMCA in Waverly, about 50 residents reviewed aerial maps showing the build-out site, which extends beyond the roughly 1,000 acres of government-owned land within the decommissioned Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion uranium enrichment plant. The expansion targets large swaths of private property, according to the map.
Some residents are weighing potential offers for their land. One man said he's heard payments run $60,000 to $70,000 an acre. A woman who declined to be named said offers to neighbors "seems random," while her husband added, "We're not really supportive of what all is going on. But it could work out to our advantage."
Others are less ambivalent. Jim Littleton, 77, a former uranium plant employee who has undergone cancer treatment, said he won't move. "They're really just trying to force us out, and don't really want to pay for it," he said. "It's a feeling that they're trying to push us out."
Turbine supply secured
Industry experts have warned that a backlog in natural gas turbine orders could stall hyperscale projects. SB Energy says it solved that problem early.
"We made commitments early on" to acquire generators from GE and Siemens Energy, said Scott Valentino, SB Energy's vice president of power development. "We had reservation agreements. We were early in the queue."
Valentino said the turbines can last up to 50 years and could eventually run on hydrogen produced through electrolysis. "No one ever thought five years ago we'd be building 10 gigawatts of generation in one plant," he said.
Financing and timeline
Hours before the open house, SB Energy co-CEO Abhijeet Sathe told the Ohio Manufacturer's Association in Columbus that the plant is being built at "world-record speed." SoftBank, SB Energy's Japan-based parent, is funding much of the buildout through a tariffs-relief trade agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce, alongside OpenAI, Nvidia, and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Sathe called the plans "the world's largest construction project, period," and said Ohio workers - mechanics, engineers, plumbers, construction crews, even motel owners - would benefit as the 17-building energy campus takes shape.
The open house was required as part of the Ohio Public Utilities Commission review process for about one-fifth of the expected generation capacity. Future public hearings are expected.
Environmental and health questions
Tina Perkins, 68, said she worries about groundwater contamination and property values. "They say they are working with hydrology engineers," she said. "So my next question was 'Are they actually going to come on site, or are they going to sit in their offices in Timbuktu and draw out the plans?'"
Perkins also questioned why the project doesn't rely on solar and wind. Experts have said renewables aren't reliable enough for the around-the-clock power that large data centers require.
Kaya Coyan, who was collecting signatures for a statewide ban on data centers larger than 25 megawatts, said residents want guarantees on water safety, air quality, and electricity consumption. "There's people all over who have well water. Are our wells going to be safe?" she asked. "What do wars start over? Resources."
Why this matters for real estate and construction professionals
This project signals a sustained pipeline of heavy construction work in southern Ohio - roads, gas lines, power generation, and a 17-building campus - over a six-year horizon. For contractors and developers working in or near Pike County, the land acquisition phase is already underway, which means early opportunities in site prep, utilities, and workforce housing. Professionals tracking AI for Real Estate & Construction should note that data center demand is driving infrastructure investment far beyond traditional tech hubs, and AI for Project Managers will matter as firms coordinate labor, permitting, and equipment logistics on a project of this scale.
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