ChatGPT maker OpenAI is searching for potential sites across the U.S. to build advanced data centers for the $500 billion Project Stargate. Reports suggest that OpenAI is considering 16 states that have shown interest in making massive data center campuses to support President Trump’s AI (artificial intelligence) vision. Texas is already identified as the “flagship” data center site, with construction work underway in Abilene.
OpenAI put out a request for proposals from states last week. Some of the specifics in the proposal included land, electricity, engineers, architects, etc. Notably, data center infrastructure consumes enormous amounts of energy and water to cool the equipment. OpenAI’s proposal makes no specific mention of using or promoting renewable energy solutions for the Stargate project.
OpenAI’s Hunt for Data Center Sites
Among the 16 states being considered are New York, California, Florida, Ohio, and Washington. Stargate will keep announcing more sites on a rolling basis, OpenAI’s VP for global affairs said yesterday. These data center campuses are expected to support roughly one gigawatt of power each and create thousands of jobs across the U.S. According to the initial plan, Stargate aims to build five to ten data center campuses, depending on the power generated at each campus.
The launch of China’s cheaper DeepSeek R1 model has drawn an emergency to the situation. President Trump and a majority of tech CEOs believe that for America’s and humanity’s sake, it is important that a global open-source AI standard is developed led by the U.S. rather than an authoritarian and autocratic AI standard led by China. The future of the world will be a lot dependent on AI and the stakes for the nations are getting bigger with each passing day.
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