OpenAI and Oracle announced the construction of an interstellar gateway data center park in Michigan, expected to begin in early 2026

OpenAI and Oracle have teamed up to develop a data center park in Saline, Michigan, with a capacity of over 1 gigawatt, marking the latest initiative by the two companies to advance artificial intelligence infrastructure.

On October 30, OpenAI, Oracle, and project developer Related Digital announced plans to build a super-large data center park in Saline, Michigan, with a power generation capacity exceeding 1 gigawatt.

This project is part of the previously announced collaboration between OpenAI and Oracle, aimed at adding 4.5 gigawatts of "Stargate" computing capacity, which is expected to commence construction in early 2026.

Peter Hoeschele, Vice President of Industrial Computing at OpenAI, stated, the project will help ensure that Michigan plays a key role in building the AI infrastructure needed for the next generation of American innovation and strengthen the domestic supply chain.

Mahesh Thiagarajan, Executive Vice President of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, pointed out that this move aims to "rapidly expand cloud capabilities to meet unprecedented demand for AI."

Billions in Investment and Thousands of Jobs

The project involves billions of dollars in investment, funded by a consortium of private investors and financial institutions.

According to the statement, the construction of the project is expected to create over 2,500 union construction jobs.

During the ongoing operational phase, Related Digital and Oracle expect to jointly create over 450 jobs on-site at the data center and generate 1,500 supportive jobs at the county level, while also creating thousands of indirect job opportunities across Michigan and nationwide.

Jeff T. Blau, CEO of Related and Chairman of Related Digital, emphasized the importance of the project:

This historic, multi-billion dollar investment will ensure that Michigan plays a leading role in the development of the digital infrastructure needed by American companies.

Aiming for AI Competition, Strengthening U.S. Technological Leadership

The core goal of this collaboration is to secure the growing demand for AI computing power in the United States.

Jeff T. Blau stated:

The project is specifically developed for Oracle and aims to contribute to maintaining our nation's competitiveness in the global AI race.

Oracle also stated that its high-performance, secure, and cost-effective AI infrastructure is powering advanced AI systems to "ensure that the U.S. maintains its leadership in technological innovation for generations to come."

Peter Hoeschele from OpenAI added:

Expanding the "Stargate" project to Michigan can strengthen the domestic supply chain, create quality job opportunities, and help more communities share in the economic opportunities created by AI.

Brent Behrman, CEO of Related Digital, stated that his team has decades of experience delivering data centers on time and on budget for leading hyperscale computing companies and looks forward to starting construction in early 2026

Energy Solutions for Sustainable Design and Innovation

The data center campus will be built on a 250-acre site in Saline Township, with its design and operation fully considering environmental sustainability.

The project will adopt LEED-certified design and utilize a closed-loop cooling system, which can limit daily water usage to a level comparable to that of an office building.

In terms of energy supply, DTE Energy will provide 100% of the electricity for the project.

The statement specifically noted that this energy solution will utilize existing resources, supplemented by a new battery storage investment fully funded by the project party.

This move will ensure that the energy supply or rates for DTE's existing customers are not affected. Moreover, since the project will share the fixed costs of maintaining and improving the grid, DTE's customers will also benefit from it