OpenAI and SoftBank invest $1 billion in SB Energy to connect infrastructure and AI

Key terms and conditions between the two parties

The announcement, scheduled for January 9, 2026, strengthens the long-standing partnership between the two companies and is directly linked to the ambitious Stargate initiative, a multi-year, $500 billion project to build massive AI training and inference facilities.

SB Energy has been selected to build and operate the 1.2-gigawatt data center complex previously announced by OpenAI in Milam County, Texas — a site large enough to power approximately 750,000 U.S. households and one of the largest single-base commitments in the AI ​​sector to date.

SB Energy will become a major customer of OpenAI, integrating their APIs and deploying ChatGPT across its entire workforce.

This partnership establishes a non-exclusive, prioritized collaboration model, combining OpenAI's in-house data center design expertise with SB Energy's proven ability to deliver rapid, cost-effective, and integrated power delivery.

This investment follows SB Energy's $800 million redeemable preferred equity funding round from Ares Infrastructure Opportunities funds in 2025, underscoring the institutions' strong belief in the company's shift from traditional renewable energy to specialized infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI).

Stargate Initiative and the AI ​​Energy Crisis

This $1 billion commitment stems directly from the landmark announcement of Stargate in January 2025, a multi-year, $500 billion plan backed by OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and other major investors (including support from the Trump administration). Stargate aims to build multiple gigawatt-scale AI data centers across the United States, with planned locations in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio — potentially providing a total capacity of up to 7 gigawatts when operational.

Access to energy has emerged as the biggest bottleneck in the AI ​​boom. Training and inferring advanced models consumes enormous amounts of electricity, often equivalent to the energy of small cities, and grid constraints, licensing delays, and competition for power have forced tech giants to take unprecedented steps:

• Direct investment in energy infrastructure

• Long-term power purchase agreements

• Domestic power generation or nuclear power agreements (e.g., Meta's recent multi-gigawatt nuclear power commitments)

SB Energy, initially focused on renewable energy and storage, has rapidly expanded into owning and operating large-scale data centers—making it a natural partner to meet OpenAI's needs.

Assessment and Conclusion

OpenAI and SoftBank's $1 billion investment in SB Energy is a clear statement: the future of advanced artificial intelligence depends not only on chips and algorithms, but also on large-scale and reliable power infrastructure. By supporting SB Energy in delivering a 1.2 GW power system at the Texas complex and beyond, the partners are directly addressing the energy bottleneck—ensuring the U.S. maintains its lead in the global AI race.

As the Stargate project progresses and initial facilities become operational in 2026, this agreement could serve as a blueprint for how AI leaders secure the necessary power to train the next generation of models. In the race toward General Artificial Intelligence (AGI), electricity is the new precious resource — and OpenAI/SoftBank is betting on its position early on.

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Compiled and analyzed by HCCVenture

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