SoftBank is spending $33 billion to build a massive gas power plant in the United States

SoftBank subsidiary SB Energy is expected to build a massive 9.2 gigawatt natural gas-fired power plant on the Ohio-Kentucky border, according to a report from SoftBank. a report From Bloomberg. If completed, it will be the largest power plant in the United States, capable of supplying energy to about 7.5 million homes.

Bloomberg indicates that the cost of the project is $33 billion, and it will be more expensive than natural gas power plants, the cost of which has risen significantly. It is unclear who will ultimately foot the bill, although ratepayers have traditionally shouldered the burden of new generating capacity.

Japanese investor A Partner in the Stargate project With OpenAI. SB Energy did not say whether the new power plant would feed the grid directly or whether it would power data centers. OpenAI and SoftBank are as well In the construction process Proof of concept data center in The former General Motors automobile assembly plant in Lordstown.

A power plant of this size would likely take years, perhaps a decade, to build, even before taking into account the shortage of natural gas turbines. If completed, the project could emit about 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, according to our calculations based on common measures of energy use. when Including methane leaks From the natural gas supply chain, the climate impact could be greater.