TechCheck Inside OpenAI’s data center hunt 10/3/25
Oct 3, 2025
OpenAI is on a quest to expand its data center footprint with a staggering $1 trillion initiative. The search has attracted over 800 proposals, with a focus on abundant power and community support rather than just tax incentives. Keith Hyde leads the charge, exploring options from solar farms to nuclear solutions. Concerns about local impacts and potential resistance arise as the company keeps specifics secretive. With a commitment to 17 gigawatts of power, OpenAI aims to build its own infrastructure to meet massive energy demands while balancing innovative energy strategies.
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Stealth Multi-Hundred Bid Site Search
- OpenAI ran a stealth site search since January and received over 800 proposals across North America.
- The selection narrowed to ~20 advanced sites focused on power, scaleability, and local buy-in.
Texas Pilot And Unconventional Power Pitches
- A solar-powered campus in central Texas is already live and developed by OpenAI itself.
- Some under-review proposals include gas, advanced reactors and even early fusion concepts.
Infrastructure As A Strategic Pillar
- OpenAI elevated infrastructure from support to a strategic pillar alongside product and model work.
- This acknowledges that next-gen model training requires a new industrial base at scale.