OpenAI Announces New Gigawatt-Scale "Stargate" AI Campus in Michigan
Executive Summary
The company is expanding its "Stargate" AI infrastructure initiative with a new data center campus in Saline Township, Michigan. This facility, part of a larger partnership with Oracle, will add over one gigawatt of capacity to support the development of AI in the United States. The project aims to accelerate the buildout of national AI infrastructure, create thousands of local construction jobs, and stimulate economic growth in the Midwest.
Key Takeaways
* Initiative Name: Stargate Campus
* Location: Saline Township, Michigan.
* Capacity: The new campus will provide more than one gigawatt of power.
* Broader Context: This site is part of a 4.5GW partnership with Oracle and brings the total planned Stargate capacity to over 8 gigawatts, supported by a $450 billion investment over three years.
* Timeline & Jobs: Construction is set to begin in early 2026 and is expected to create over 2,500 union construction jobs.
* Sustainability & Utilities: The campus will utilize a closed-loop cooling system to minimize water consumption and will be powered by DTE Energy using existing transmission capacity, avoiding costs for local ratepayers.
Strategic Importance
This announcement highlights the massive capital investment required for AI infrastructure and signals a strategic effort to reindustrialize the American Midwest by building critical technology hubs outside of traditional coastal centers.