Stargate is your friend, OpenAI tells locals near facilities

"OpenAI wants every Stargate datacenter campus to come with its own community plan reflecting "local concerns," including a commitment not to cause a hike in electricity prices, minimizing water use, and protecting local ecosystems. The Stargate project, launched almost exactly a year ago, aims to spend as much as $500 billion on infrastructure to power AI development over the next several years."

"However, datacenter projects have been facing increasing opposition from local communities, especially massive projects such as those at Stargate's site Abilene, Texas, where ten buildings each covering half a million square feet are being constructed. Such developments can dominate the landscape, and communities living in their shadow have complained about noise, the amount of water and energy they might consume, and that they tend not to create many long-term local jobs. Research org Data Center Watch reported that 20 US server farm projects were blocked or delayed amid local opposition during Q2 2025 alone."

"In response, OpenAI says it is "committed to working with communities" to ensure its Stargate campuses are built and run in a way that strengthens such communities and "demonstrates that we're being good neighbors." It promises locally-tailored community plans for every campus, driven by input from residents. However, each plan will include a commitment to pay its own way on energy, so that the project's operations don't lead to a jump in electricity prices."

OpenAI requires locally tailored community plans for each Stargate datacenter campus, including commitments not to raise electricity prices, minimize water use, and protect local ecosystems. The Stargate project plans up to $500 billion in infrastructure spending over several years to power AI development and includes very large campuses such as Abilene, Texas, where ten half‑million‑square‑foot buildings are being constructed. Local residents have raised concerns about noise, resource consumption, visual dominance, and limited long-term local jobs. Data Center Watch recorded 20 US server farm projects blocked or delayed in Q2 2025 amid opposition. OpenAI proposes funding grid upgrades, adding generation capacity, and operating campuses as flexible electrical loads to avoid driving up costs.

Read at Theregister