SoftBank's $33 Billion Plan for Largest U.S. Natural Gas Power Plant Faces Community Pushback
nashnova research
SoftBank's SB Energy plans a $33 billion, 9.2-gigawatt natural gas plant in Ohio to power one of the world's largest data centers, but the project faces community opposition, a regulatory freeze on data-center tax breaks, and a turbine supply crunch that could delay production by years.
How big is this plant?
Designed at 9.2 gigawatts, it would be the largest natural gas power plant in the United States if completed.
This means → enough electricity for roughly 9 million homes — but all of it is earmarked for a single hyperscale data center.
OpenAI has signed a 20-year lease; Nvidia is backing part of the financing. In plain terms = the tenant and the financier are already committed — this is not a speculative announcement.
What do local residents think?
Carl Fuller, 81, lives near the proposed site. He told the town hall: "This will completely destroy our community — farms will disappear, and residents are already leaving."
Yet most attendees were neutral, there mainly to gather information. Strong opposition was a minority.
This reflects a community that has not yet polarized — the project's trajectory will depend heavily on what SB Energy discloses next and how it addresses local concerns.
Can it clear the regulators?
Construction is slated for Q4 this year, but the project must first pass the Ohio Power Siting Board.
Phase one is 2 GW, targeted for Q3 2028; scaling to 10 GW requires a separate approval from the local power board.
The bigger wildcard: Governor Mike DeWine froze tax incentives for data centers in May, as voter frustration over large-scale data-center expansion builds ahead of midterm elections.
Can it get the equipment?
Cleanview founder Michael Thomas notes that gas turbines are in severe shortage — orders placed now face delivery in 2031 to 2033 at the earliest.
Installation adds another one to two years. In plain terms = even under the best scenario, full production could lag the official timeline by three to five years.
This means → the schedule depends on the supply chain as much as on funding and permits.
What is the biggest financial risk?
Thomas is blunt: OpenAI is fundamentally the power buyer behind this project — if its revenue growth stalls, the project faces a serious threat.
This means → the return on a $33 billion investment is tied to the long-term growth outlook of an AI company that has yet to turn a profit.
The project is also part of a U.S.–Japan trade deal — Tokyo is investing in America in exchange for tariff concessions. This adds geopolitical leverage but also means the project's fate is not purely commercial.
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