OpenAI and SoftBank Group Partner with SB Energy to Build and Operate Next-Generation AI Data Centers to Advance Stargate

• SoftBank Group and OpenAI invest $1 billion in SB Energy to support its growth as a leading development and execution partner for data center campuses
• OpenAI signs 1.2 GW data center lease for initial data center buildout
• SB Energy will become a major customer of OpenAI, leveraging its APIs and deploying ChatGPT for its employees
• SB Energy previously secured $800 million of redeemable preferred equity from Ares to further support the company's growth

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Jan. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SB Energy, a SoftBank Group company, announced today a strategic partnership with OpenAI as part of Stargate, marking a significant step forward in the build out of next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) and energy infrastructure in the United States. The investment builds on the $500 billion Stargate commitment announced in January at the White House.

To support the partnership and as demand for AI compute accelerates, OpenAI and SoftBank Group are each investing $500 million into SB Energy. OpenAI has also selected SB Energy to build and operate its previously-announced 1.2 GW data center site in Milam County. The equity funding supports SB Energy's growth as a leading development and execution partner for data center campuses and associated energy infrastructure. SB Energy is currently developing several multi-gigawatt data center campuses, with initial facilities under construction and expected to enter service starting in 2026.

OpenAI co-founder and President Greg Brockman said, "Partnering with SB Energy brings together their strength in data center infrastructure and energy development and OpenAI's deep domain expertise in data center engineering. The result is a fast, reliable way to scale compute through large, highly optimized AI data centers."

SB Energy co-CEO Rich Hossfeld said, "SB Energy's strategic partnership with OpenAI accelerates our delivery of advanced AI data center campuses and associated energy infrastructure at the scale required to advance Stargate and secure America's AI future. We are grateful for our longstanding sponsor SoftBank Group and new partner OpenAI for their investment in our platform, our team, and our long-term vision."

As part of this transaction, OpenAI, SoftBank Group, and SB Energy have also formed a non-exclusive preferred partnership to develop a new model for data center builds that brings together OpenAI's first-party data center design with SB Energy's proven expertise in speed, cost discipline, and integrated energy delivery to deliver purpose-built AI infrastructure at scale. With each project, SB Energy will invest in communities through well-paying jobs, workforce development, and grid modernization to deliver durable economic growth for partner communities.

SB Energy's Milam County Data Center will create thousands of construction jobs. SB Energy has designed the data center to minimize water usage, and SB Energy plans to build new generation to support the Milam County Data Center's energy needs and protect Texas ratepayers.

To support the growth of its data center infrastructure business, SB Energy recently acquired Studio 151, a data center construction management, procurement, engineering, and operations company with a track record spanning 20 data center campuses. This strategic acquisition enhances SB Energy's in-house development, construction, and operational data center capabilities.

SB Energy co-CEO Abhijeet Sathe said, "Over the past 18 months, SB Energy and OpenAI have worked closely with Studio 151 across multiple data center projects, and their technical expertise and execution discipline has been exceptional. Bringing these capabilities in-house strengthens our ability to deliver repeatable campuses at scale and with certainty."

Ares Infrastructure Opportunities funds ("Ares") previously invested $800 million of redeemable preferred equity in 2025 to further support SB Energy's growth. This investment further deepens the long-standing relationship between Ares and SB Energy, marking the third financing from Ares since 2020.

About SB Energy 
SB Energy delivers reliable and secure data center and power infrastructure to strengthen America's future. Founded in 2019, we are a fully integrated infrastructure development and ownership platform combining strong execution with expertise in project development, construction, engineering, supply chain, financing, power marketing, and asset management. For more information, visit SBEnergy.com.

SOURCE SB Energy