Nvidia Pledges $105 Billion in Credit Support for OpenAI's Ohio AI Campus
The chip giant is evolving from a hardware vendor into an infrastructure financier to secure the massive power and space required for next-generation AI.
Nvidia has agreed to provide up to $105 billion in credit support and lease guarantees for a massive AI data center campus in Pike County, Ohio. The facility will be leased by OpenAI and developed by the SoftBank-backed SB Energy, marking one of the largest infrastructure commitments in the history of the artificial intelligence industry.
Under the terms of the agreement, Nvidia's credit guarantees will cover the land, power, and shell construction of the campus. In addition to these guarantees, Nvidia is investing $1.5 billion directly into SB Energy and has secured a deal to exclusively supply the AI computing infrastructure for the site. Operations are scheduled to roll out in phases beginning in 2028, with an initial capacity of 4.25 GW. While some reports suggest a broader 10 GW complex plan, the project specifically targets approximately 8 GW of IT computing capacity.
The Infrastructure Pivot
This deal reflects a broader trend where AI laboratories are aggressively pursuing the extreme energy and computing power necessary to train next-generation models. The Ohio project follows a $1 billion commitment made by OpenAI and SoftBank to SB Energy in January to support the 'Stargate' AI initiative.
For Nvidia, the move represents a strategic evolution. By providing the financial scaffolding for the data centers that house its chips, Nvidia is ensuring that the physical infrastructure—specifically power and cooling—keeps pace with the rapid release cycle of its hardware. This transition from a pure-play chip vendor to a critical infrastructure financier allows Nvidia to lock in long-term demand and ensure its hardware has a viable place to operate.
Economic and Industry Impact
The scale of the investment is expected to have a significant regional economic impact. Projections indicate the project will create approximately 35,000 construction jobs through 2032, followed by 2,500 permanent operating positions once the campus is functional.
Beyond the local economy, the deal underscores the staggering capital requirements of the AI race. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang noted that OpenAI’s spending on Nvidia chips is expected to represent about $600 billion of computing capacity through 2030. The Ohio campus serves as a physical manifestation of this spending, highlighting the strategic importance of the U.S. Midwest as a hub for AI power and land.
What's Next
As the project moves toward its 2028 start date, the industry will be watching how SB Energy manages the immense power requirements of an 8 GW facility. While the credit guarantees are in place, the actual delivery of the power grid infrastructure remains a critical hurdle for projects of this magnitude. Further details on the specific hardware configurations and the timeline for the subsequent capacity phases are expected as construction begins.