Stargate Lands in Wisconsin: What Developers and Builders Need to Know
OpenAI, Oracle and Vantage Data Centers plan a multi-billion-dollar AI data center campus in Port Washington, just north of Milwaukee. The Lighthouse campus will include four facilities delivering close to a gigawatt of AI capacity, with construction starting soon and full delivery targeted for 2028.
For real estate and construction pros, this is a high-visibility signal: hyperscale demand is moving deeper into the Midwest, backed by major utility upgrades, long-term jobs and water- and energy-efficient design standards that will become baseline expectations on similar projects.
The Project at a Glance
- Campus: Four AI data centers across 672 acres (about 500 acres developed).
- Capacity: Nearly 1 GW on site; part of a 4.5 GW expansion under the Stargate program.
- Timeline: Construction beginning soon; completion slated for 2028.
- Jobs: 4,000+ skilled construction roles (majority union), 1,000+ long-term operations roles.
- Regional GDP: Estimated $2.7B contribution.
Sustainable by Design
The campus is planned to run on 100% matched zero-emission energy. Vantage will enable new solar, wind and battery capacity in Wisconsin, allocating 70% to Lighthouse and 30% to state consumers. Any remaining consumption will be matched annually with renewables.
Vantage is pursuing LEED certification. Expect tight commissioning, envelope performance, smart controls and strong MEP coordination to hit efficiency targets at hyperscale.
Water Strategy: Closed-Loop and Water Positive
The design uses a closed-loop liquid cooling system to reduce water draw while improving thermal efficiency. To offset any use, Vantage will fund local water restoration projects and target water positivity, returning more water to freshwater sources than the campus consumes.
Site Ecology and Noise Mitigation
Of the 672 total acres, about 500 will be developed, with the remainder enhancing natural spaces and wetlands. Plans call for more than 2,000 native trees and an eight-foot planted berm with native species to reduce sound along the perimeter.
Economic Impact and Workforce
The build will be a major employment engine: 4,000+ union-led construction jobs during buildout and 1,000+ long-term roles post-completion. Expect demand for electrical, civil, structural, mechanical, controls, low-voltage and specialty trades experienced in mission-critical work.
"This project will create good jobs, advance zero-emission energy and boost the local economy-all while expanding capacity without raising rates for local consumers," said Peter Hoeschele, OpenAI's vice president of industrial compute.
Infrastructure Commitments
Vantage plans at least $175M in regional upgrades, including increased capacity for water and wastewater treatment, new water tower, enhanced mains and sewer, and power infrastructure. These improvements serve both the campus and local community needs.
Power Strategy and Rate Structure
WEC Energy Group's We Energies will provide a dedicated electricity rate designed to shield other customers from cost increases tied to Lighthouse. Vantage is underwriting 100% of the power infrastructure investment for the site.
Delivery Model and Procurement Watchlist
Hyperscale timelines compress everything-entitlements, grid interconnects, and long-lead equipment. Early vendor alignment and phased turnover will be essential to maintain schedule while meeting sustainability and reliability targets.
- Long-lead equipment: High-capacity transformers, generators, switchgear, UPS, chillers, pumps, heat exchangers, batteries.
- Materials: Rebar, structural steel, cable, bus duct, prefabricated electrical rooms and skids.
- Utilities: Substation work, feeders, fiber backbones and redundant routes.
- Water: Closed-loop systems, make-up water capacity, treatment, blowdown handling, and restoration project partnerships.
- Site: Mass grading, stormwater management, wetlands protection, acoustic berm construction, bio-retention features.
What This Means for Midwest Real Estate
Port Washington's selection validates the upper Midwest as a prime corridor for energy-secure, large-parcel data center development. Expect follow-on activity across sites with strong transmission access, labor depth and water strategies that stand up to public scrutiny.
For owners and brokers, parcels near bulk power and fiber, with clean energy pathways and clear permitting, will command a premium. For GCs and subs, mission-critical credentials and prefab capacity will set the shortlist.
Action Items for Owners, GCs and Subs
- Qualify early: Build joint pursuit teams with MEP, utility and prefab partners experienced in Tier III/IV and AI density.
- Lock supply: Secure letters of intent for transformers, switchgear, gensets, and battery systems; align on alternates.
- Coordinate with utilities: Get in the queue for interconnect, transmission upgrades and protective relaying requirements.
- Permitting and community: Prepare transparent water and biodiversity plans; engage neighbors on noise and traffic with clear mitigations.
- Workforce: Expand apprenticeship intake and upskill for high-voltage, commissioning, controls and liquid cooling.
- Delivery: Use phased turnover with standardized skids to cut schedule risk and simplify QA/QC.
Broader Context
Lighthouse, together with Vantage's Frontier campus in Texas, is part of a more than $40B build program in North America. Oracle and Vantage's collaboration under Stargate targets over 4.5 GW of IT capacity across sites-an indicator that AI demand is moving from headlines to hard assets at utility scale.
Key Numbers
- Capex: $15B+ in Port Washington.
- Capacity: ~1 GW AI capacity on site; part of a 4.5 GW expansion.
- Jobs: 4,000+ construction; 1,000+ long-term; thousands more indirect.
- GDP: $2.7B regional contribution.
- Infrastructure: $175M minimum in water, wastewater, power and related upgrades.
- Energy mix: New zero-emission capacity with 70% to site, 30% to Wisconsin consumers; annual renewable matching for the rest.
- Ecology: 2,000+ native trees; wetlands protections; eight-foot planted berm.
Final Take
This project sets a clear benchmark: big power, water stewardship, biodiversity gains, and rate protection for local customers-all baked into the plan. If you develop, build or supply mission-critical projects, use Lighthouse as your checklist for what wins in the next cycle.
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