SoftBank is moving to build what is described as the largest gas power plant in the United States. TechCrunch reported on Wednesday that SoftBank subsidiary SB Energy will build a 9.2-gigawatt gas power plant near the Ohio-Kentucky border. When completed, it would be able to supply electricity to 7.5 million households.
The project is valued at $33 billion. TechCrunch reported that SoftBank is building a data centre on the site of GM's Lordstown plant with OpenAI, and that the new power plant could also supply power to it.
Such a large power plant could take several years, or even more than 10 years, to complete. A shortage of natural gas turbines is also expected to be a variable. TechCrunch reported that if completed, the plant is expected to emit 15 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, and that the environmental impact could be greater if methane leaks from the natural gas supply chain are also taken into account.
Chi-gyu Hwang
delight@d-today.co.kr