SB Energy announced a plan to transform the former A‑Plant uranium enrichment site in the village of Piketon, Ohio, into what developers say could become the world’s largest data center campus. The project, estimated at roughly $500 billion, would repurpose the Cold‑War‑era infrastructure that once supported atomic energy production.
Local history and community support
For nearly five decades, the A‑Plant employed generations of Piketon residents, shaping the village’s identity. Former Pike County commissioner Blaine Beekman, a native of Piketon, said the community’s experience with the atomic plant positions it well for this new high‑tech venture. “You look on it and think, okay, these people built the atomic plant and stayed on. They were county leaders and businessmen. It’s going to be a whole new delegation of that same thing,” Beekman explained.
National‑security rationale
Beekman also highlighted the national‑security benefits of locating such a critical facility on U.S. soil. “You don’t want to go to some other country to have them do this,” he said, underscoring the importance of domestic data‑processing capacity for both commercial and governmental needs.
Economic impact
According to project estimates, the construction phase could generate as many as 35,000 jobs in the region over several years. Herman Potter, chair of the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative and a retired steelworker, noted that data centers are an inevitable part of the modern economy. “This is inevitable. Data centers are inevitable. We need to keep up with the rest of the world,” he said.
Potter added that the site’s existing power grid, water supply, and security infrastructure—originally built for nuclear enrichment—make it uniquely suited for a data‑center campus of this magnitude. Unlike other Ohio locales where similar projects have faced public opposition, Piketon residents have shown little resistance, with community leaders describing a collaborative atmosphere.
Community response
Local officials and business leaders have expressed optimism, emphasizing that the development aligns with Piketon’s historic role as a hub of technical expertise. The project is expected to attract ancillary businesses, increase tax revenues, and provide long‑term employment opportunities beyond the construction phase.
Next steps
SB Energy and its partners will move forward with detailed engineering studies, environmental reviews, and permitting processes in the coming months. If approved, construction could begin as early as next year, marking a significant shift for Piketon from its nuclear past to a digital future.
The initiative reflects a broader national trend of repurposing former industrial sites for high‑tech uses, positioning Ohio as a competitive player in the global data‑center market while preserving local heritage and creating jobs for families across the region.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
