# OpenAI and Anthropic reportedly seek 20‑30 MW data centers as gigawatt projects lag

Digest AI · Hardware & Compute · published 2026-09-22T09:30:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/openai-and-anthropic-reportedly-seek-2030-mw-data-centers-as-gigawatt

## Summary

OpenAI and Anthropic are reportedly scrambling to secure existing data centers with about 20‑30 MW of capacity, according to a September 18 CNBC report. The move aims to provide immediate inference power while their multi‑gigawatt campuses – such as Anthropic’s roughly $45 billion, 460 MW deal with Nscale in West Virginia and OpenAI’s Stargate projects that have already passed a 10 GW target plus 3 GW in Georgia and 8 GW in Ohio – remain under construction.

Both firms say smaller sites can be deployed faster, avoid local opposition that blocked 45 U.S. data‑center projects worth $68 billion in Q2 2026, and suit workloads that can be spread across multiple locations. OpenAI’s spokesperson emphasized a diversified compute portfolio based on performance, reliability, timing and cost. Anthropic declined to comment on the smaller‑facility talks, which are also being explored in the Nordics and the United Kingdom.

## Key points

- OpenAI and Anthropic are reportedly looking at 20‑30 MW existing data centers for immediate AI inference capacity.
- Anthropic reportedly signed a $45 billion deal with Nscale for 460 MW in West Virginia.
- In Q2 2026, U.S. local opposition blocked 45 data‑center projects worth $68 billion, prompting firms to favor smaller sites.

## Why it matters

Securing 20‑30 MW sites lets OpenAI and Anthropic meet immediate inference demand while gigawatt‑scale campuses take years, influencing compute pricing, regional data‑center markets, and the speed of AI service rollout.

## Sources

1. [OpenAI and Anthropic scramble for smaller data centers as massive gigawatt projects lag — 20-30 MW facilities to provide capacity as mega structures undergo construction](https://tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/openai-and-anthropic-are-reportedly-seeking-out-smaller-data-center-deals-to-meet-current-demand-20-30-mw-facilities-to-provide-capacity-as-mega-structures-undergo-construction) (Tom's Hardware, 2026-09-22)

Part of the developing story: [AI Giants Race Toward Massive Infrastructure and Market Entry](https://digestai.news/thread/openai-and-anthropic-are-reportedly-exploring-20-30-mw-ai-compute-clusters-in) (2 stories)

## Cite

Digest AI, "OpenAI and Anthropic reportedly seek 20‑30 MW data centers as gigawatt projects lag", 22 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/openai-and-anthropic-reportedly-seek-2030-mw-data-centers-as-gigawatt

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