A collaborative effort between OpenAI, Oracle, and Vantage Data Centers is set to establish a cutting-edge data center campus in Port Washington, Wisconsin, just outside Milwaukee. This project, known as "Lighthouse," is a key part of OpenAI and Oracle's Stargate initiative, aimed at significantly expanding AI infrastructure. The investment is projected to reach $15 billion.

The Lighthouse campus will consist of four advanced data centers, providing nearly one gigawatt of AI capacity. Construction is scheduled to commence soon and is expected to be completed by 2028. Peter Hoeschele, OpenAI's vice president of industrial compute, emphasized that this expansion is a major stride in building the infrastructure necessary for widespread access to the benefits of AI. He also noted the project's potential to create jobs, promote zero-emission energy, and stimulate the local economy without increasing rates for local consumers.

Vantage Data Centers will develop the four data centers across a 672-acre property, with roughly 500 acres actively developed and the remainder preserved for natural mitigation. The project is designed with a strong focus on environmental stewardship and sustainability. Key initiatives include:

• 100% Matched Zero-Emission Energy: Vantage is enabling the development of new zero-emission energy capacity in Wisconsin, including solar, wind, and battery storage. Seventy percent of the energy capacity will be allocated to the Lighthouse campus, while 30% will be available to all Wisconsin consumers. The remaining energy consumed by the campus will be matched with renewable energy purchases annually.
• Water Positive: The campus will use a closed-loop liquid cooling system that minimizes water consumption and saves energy. Vantage is also investing in local water restoration projects to achieve water positivity, restoring more water to freshwater sources than the campus consumes.
• Biodiversity Net Gain: Vantage is developing 500 of 672 total acres for the four data centers, preserving and enhancing the surrounding natural spaces. This includes planting more than 2,000 native trees and other native landscaping.

The Lighthouse project is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits to Port Washington and surrounding communities. More than 4,000 skilled construction jobs, primarily union positions, are expected to be created. Upon completion, Vantage and Oracle anticipate creating over 1,000 long-term jobs and thousands of indirect jobs, many of which will be in women-owned, minority-owned, and veteran-owned businesses. The project is estimated to contribute $2.7 billion to the regional GDP.

Vantage is investing a minimum of $175 million in critical regional infrastructure upgrades, including expanded capacity for water and wastewater treatment facilities, upgraded water mains and sewer lines, a new water tower, and power infrastructure. These upgrades will benefit both the Lighthouse campus and the residents of Port Washington. To prevent rate increases for other customers, Vantage is underwriting the power infrastructure investment and has proposed a dedicated electricity rate with We Energies.

The Wisconsin data center is part of the larger Stargate initiative, a $500 billion push to build 10 gigawatts of AI infrastructure across the nation. Other Stargate sites are underway in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio. The initiative has a pipeline totaling nearly 7 gigawatts of planned capacity.

Dana Adams, president of North America at Vantage Data Centers, stated that the upper Midwest has become a critical and strategic market as demand for data centers expands beyond traditional hubs. She added that Vantage's investment in Wisconsin reflects the area's strong foundation for digital growth and its commitment to sustainable AI innovation at scale.