SoftBank to spend an eye-popping $33B to build huge U.S. gas power plant
#SoftBank #natural gas power plant #$33 billion investment #Ohio-Kentucky border #carbon emissions #energy infrastructure #SB Energy #OpenAI partnership
📌 Key Takeaways
- SoftBank plans $33 billion investment in a 9.2 gigawatt natural gas power plant on the Ohio-Kentucky border
- The facility would be the largest power plant in the U.S., capable of powering 7.5 million homes
- Construction could take up to a decade due to scale and current turbine shortages
- The plant would emit approximately 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually
📖 Full Retelling
SoftBank subsidiary SB Energy announced plans to invest an unprecedented $33 billion in constructing a massive 9.2 gigawatt natural gas-fired power plant on the Ohio-Kentucky border in the United States, as reported by Bloomberg on February 19, 2026. If completed, this facility would become the largest power plant in the U.S., capable of supplying electricity to approximately 7.5 million homes, with a price tag significantly higher than recent natural gas projects that have already seen substantial cost increases. The ambitious project comes as SoftBank continues its expansion into energy infrastructure while maintaining its partnership with OpenAI in the Stargate initiative, though it remains unclear whether the new power plant will directly feed into the national grid or specifically power data centers. A power plant of this magnitude would likely take years, possibly up to a decade, to complete, particularly considering the current shortage of natural gas turbines, while also raising significant environmental concerns about its carbon footprint and potential climate impacts.
🏷️ Themes
Energy Infrastructure, Climate Impact, Corporate Investment
📚 Related People & Topics
SoftBank Group
Japanese investment holding company
SoftBank Group Corp. (ソフトバンクグループ株式会社, SofutoBanku Gurūpu Kabushiki gaisha) is a Japanese multinational investment holding company headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, that focuses on investment management. The group primarily invests in companies operating in technology that offer goods and services to c...
Entity Intersection Graph
Connections for SoftBank Group:
View full profileOriginal Source
In Brief Posted: 8:27 AM PST · February 19, 2026 Tim De Chant SoftBank to spend an eye-popping $33B to build huge U.S. gas power plant 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 Bloomberg. If completed, it would be the largest power plant in the U.S., capable of powering around 7.5 million homes. With a price tag of $33 billion, the project would be more expensive than recent natural gas-fired power plants, which have skyrocketed in cost, Bloomberg notes. It’s unclear who will ultimately foot the bill, though traditionally rate-payers have shouldered the burden for new generating capacity. The Japanese investor is a partner in the Stargate project with OpenAI. SB Energy did not say whether the new power plant would feed directly into the grid or if it would power data centers. OpenAI and SoftBank are in the process of building a “proof of concept” data center at GM’s former Lordstown automotive assembly plant . A power plant of this size is likely to take years, perhaps a decade, to complete even before taking into account the shortage of natural gas turbines. If completed, the project could emit around 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. When including methane leaks from the natural gas supply chain, the climate impact could even be far worse. Topics Climate , electrical grid , natural gas , power plants , Softbank October 13-15 San Francisco, CA Tickets are live at the lowest rates of the year. Save up to $680 on your pass now. Meet investors. Discover your next portfolio company. Hear from 250+ tech leaders , dive into 200+ sessions , and explore 300+ startups building what’s next. Don’t miss these one-time savings. REGISTER NOW Newsletters See More Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news TechCrunch Daily News Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage. TechCrunch Mobility TechCrunch Mobility is yo...
Read full article at source