SoftBank’s subsidiary, SB Energy, plans to construct a 9.2-gigawatt natural gas-fired power plant on the Ohio-Kentucky border, as reported by Bloomberg. If finalized, it would become the largest power plant in the U.S., capable of powering approximately 7.5 million homes.
The undertaking is projected to cost $33 billion, surpassing the expenses of recent natural gas-fired power plants, which have seen substantial cost increases, Bloomberg mentions. It remains uncertain who will finance the project, though traditionally rate-payers bear the cost of new generating capacities.
The Japanese investor is involved in the Stargate project with OpenAI. SB Energy has not confirmed if the power plant will connect directly to the grid or supply data centers. OpenAI and SoftBank are working on developing a “proof of concept” data center at GM’s former Lordstown assembly plant.
A project of this magnitude is expected to take several years, potentially a decade, to complete, especially given the current shortage of natural gas turbines. Once operational, the plant may emit about 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. When factoring in methane leaks from the natural gas supply chain, the climate impact could be even greater.