The AI research firm OpenAI, in partnership with Oracle Corporation and Related Digital, has revealed plans to build a new hyperscale data-centre campus in Saline Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan. The site is part of OpenAI’s broader “Stargate” initiative and is projected to exceed 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity.
Construction is slated to begin in early 2026 on a 250-acre site. According to OpenAI’s announcement, the campus will generate more than 2,500 union construction jobs and over 450 permanent onsite positions, with an additional 1,500 jobs across the county region.
The facility will leverage a closed-loop cooling system to significantly reduce water consumption, and existing transmission capacity from local utility DTE Energy will supply the power without requiring new generation infrastructure or burdening local rate-payers.
This project represents the largest single-investment announcement in Michigan’s history, according to Governor Gretchen Whitmer. She noted the site reinforces Michigan’s role in next-generation industries such as AI infrastructure, clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
