Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 3 hrs ago
OpenAI promises greater transparency and power-cost protections for data centres
OpenAI has pledged new safeguards for its data centres after US voters backed restrictions on almost all data-centre measures on ballots this week.
The company said the commitments will apply to facilities it owns and operates, and include seeking community input and publishing construction plans.
OpenAI also says it will pay the full cost of powering those facilities and will not use non-disclosure agreements with public officials in site discussions, though proprietary information will remain confidential.
The policy blueprint has been in development since August, as opposition grew over concerns about utility bills, environmental effects and local impacts such as traffic, noise and lighting.
The election results signal strong resistance to data-centre expansion: voters opposed or rejected all but one of 41 measures, according to Ballotpedia and CNBC.
OpenAI says data centres support its AI services and model development, and argues they can bring lasting jobs to communities.
The company wants policymakers to adopt similar safeguards, and says it has been speaking with lawmakers ahead of the new Congress's session in late January.
OpenAI announced commitments to make its data centre plans more transparent and protect local residents from higher power costs.
The company said it would seek community input, publish construction plans and stop using non-disclosure agreements with public officials when discussing future sites.
OpenAI also reaffirmed that it would pay the full cost of powering data centres it owns and operates.
The commitments followed widespread voter opposition to data centre development in US midterm elections.
OpenAI said its policy blueprint had been in development since August.
- Who
- OpenAI, including its Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane.
- What
- The company pledged greater transparency and power-cost protections for data centres it owns and operates.
- When
- The commitments were announced on Nov. 5, 2026.
- Where
- The commitments concern OpenAI data centre projects; the sources cite projects in Georgia and Ohio.
- Why
- OpenAI said the measures are intended to build trust with local communities. Voter opposition to data centres had increased.
OpenAI
Data centre opponents
Community impact
OpenAI
OpenAI says it will solicit community input and publish construction plans.
Data centre opponents
Opponents have raised concerns about environmental harm, higher utility bills and job losses.
Development
OpenAI
OpenAI says data centres can benefit local communities and support ongoing jobs.
Data centre opponents
Opponents have backed restrictions or rejected pro-development measures in local votes.
OpenAI worked on its policy blueprint, according to the company.
Voters backed restrictions or rejected pro-development measures in all but one of 41 data centre-related ballot measures.
Shares of data centre operators and power companies fell as investors anticipated possible effects from the election results.
OpenAI announced its commitments and policy blueprint.
- Ballot measures
- 41 data centre-related measures; all but one went against data centres, according to Ballotpedia
- Power costs
- OpenAI pledged to pay the full cost of powering data centres it owns and operates
- Community measures
- Solicit input, publish construction plans and avoid non-disclosure agreements with public officials
- Policy blueprint
- In development since August
- Ohio facility
- Expected to create 2,500 long-term jobs with an average annual salary of US$80,000
3 sources
What people are saying
What we're doing with this blueprint is really laying out the best lessons that we have learned and committing to applying them as they go forward
These projects are not the types of data centres that people have historically thought about, which are some version of a black box in a pasture that did very little in terms of the economic utility for the communities they were in
We need to do a better job of really communicating to people, to local communities, about why data centres can be beneficial to them