OpenAI pitches data center power plants as a way to protect nearby areas

OpenAI announced a "Grid Protectors Program" pilot at an upcoming data center in Effingham County, Georgia, promising to free up to 1,000 megawatts of power during extreme weather or emergencies, enough to power air conditioners in around 700,000 homes. The announcement comes amid spreading US opposition to data centers, including protests in Utah and state laws in Tennessee, Florida, Oklahoma and Oregon aimed at preventing AI companies from passing energy costs to residents. OpenAI says its year-round demand can help spread the grid's fixed costs across more electricity sales, and it is also partnering with Oracle and SoftBank on "Stargate" data centers in Texas and New Mexico.