SoftBank to Build Massive $33B Gas Power Plant in U.S.

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

SoftBank subsidiary SB Energy is planning to build a massive $33 billion, 9.2 gigawatt gas-fired power plant on the Ohio-Kentucky border. If completed, it would be the largest power plant in the United States. SB Energy has not disclosed whether the plant would feed the electric grid or power data centers, but the connection to SoftBank's partnership with OpenAI on the Stargate project and the company's existing data center plans in Ohio raises questions about the plant's intended purpose.

Why it matters

This massive investment in fossil fuel infrastructure comes as the U.S. and other nations are working to transition to renewable energy sources to combat climate change. The scale of the project also highlights SoftBank's growing ambitions in the energy and technology sectors, as the company looks to power its expanding data center operations and AI initiatives.

The details

SB Energy, a subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, is planning to build a 9.2 gigawatt natural gas-fired power plant on the border of Ohio and Kentucky. The $33 billion project would be the largest power plant in the United States if completed. SB Energy has not disclosed whether the plant's output would be used to feed the electric grid or to power data centers, but the company's existing partnership with OpenAI on the Stargate project and its plans to build a proof-of-concept data center at GM's former Lordstown assembly plant in Ohio suggest the plant may be intended to support SoftBank's growing technology operations.

• SoftBank announced the $33 billion power plant project in February 2026.

What’s next

The project still requires various regulatory approvals before construction can begin, and it remains to be seen whether the plant will be used to power the electric grid or SoftBank's own data centers.