OpenAI says its data centers will pay for own energy and limit water usage

OpenAI says it will minimize water use and pay for energy infrastructure upgrades needed to power its data centers. “We’re being good neighbors,” the company said, directly addressing the growing opposition to AI projects amid rising utility bills.

“We commit to paying our own way on energy, so that our operations don’t increase your electricity prices,” OpenAI said. The company promised to work with local communities to minimize the impact of its Stargate data centers. OpenAI was not specific but said plans could involve securing its own energy supplies or paying for local grid upgrades.

OpenAI also highlighted the vast amounts of water — often potable — used to cool data centers, a concern that drives opposition to projects. Impact could be minimized by “innovations in cooling water systems” and AI design, the company said.

OpenAI’s announcement comes on the heels of a similar community pledge from Microsoft designed to address mounting frustration on the ground in communities around data centers. The pushback is becoming a growing issue for tech companies striving to build out AI infrastructure, even leading to scrubbed projects in some cases.