# Japan's $33B Investment Powers Massive Ohio Power Plant
A historic $33 billion natural gas power facility is set to transform southern Ohio into a major energy hub, marking the first major project under a sweeping U.S.-Japan trade and investment partnership. The Portsmouth Powered Land Project, described as the largest gas-fired generating facility in history, represents a transformative development for the region and signals Japan's commitment to strengthening U.S. industrial infrastructure.[1][2]
Record-Breaking Scale and Capacity
The proposed 9.2-gigawatt (GW) natural gas power complex near Portsmouth will be operated by SB Energy, a subsidiary of SoftBank Group.[1] This massive facility would become the biggest natural gas power generation site in the United States and rank among the largest in the world.[2] To put this in perspective, a plant of this capacity could supply electricity to millions of American homes, positioning southern Ohio as a critical component of the nation's energy infrastructure.
The Trump administration has emphasized the project's strategic importance, with President Trump calling it "the largest in history" and highlighting Ohio's selection as part of broader efforts to rebuild America's industrial and energy security through international trade agreements.[2]
Part of Broader U.S.-Japan Investment Framework
The Portsmouth power plant is the flagship project among three major developments announced under a new U.S.-Japan trade and investment framework tied to Japan's $550 billion U.S. investment pledge.[1] The announcement came alongside two additional projects: a $2.1 billion deepwater crude oil export terminal off the Texas coast (GulfLink) and a $600 million synthetic diamond grit facility in Georgia.[1]
These three projects, totaling approximately $36 billion, represent the first wave of investments under the partnership, which was facilitated by a trade deal that lowered U.S. tariffs on Japanese imports to 15%.[1] The financing structure will include equity, loans, and loan guarantees from Japanese state-backed agencies including the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance.[1]
Regional Transformation and Future Development
Southern Ohio is emerging as a major national energy and digital infrastructure hub with multiple concurrent developments reshaping the region's economic landscape.[2] Beyond the Portsmouth gas plant, the area is also slated to host advanced nuclear reactors in Pike County and multiple data centers, positioning the region for significant long-term growth.[2]
This concentration of energy and infrastructure projects reflects a strategic national effort to strengthen U.S. industrial capacity and energy security while leveraging international partnerships. For residents and local leaders, these developments represent both tremendous opportunity and significant responsibility, as decisions made today will shape Portsmouth and surrounding counties for generations to come.[2]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Portsmouth Powered Land Project?
The Portsmouth Powered Land Project is a proposed $33 billion natural gas power facility with a capacity of 9.2 gigawatts, located near Portsmouth, Ohio. It will be operated by SB Energy, a subsidiary of SoftBank Group, and is designed to be the largest gas-fired generating facility in history.[1][2]
How much electricity can the plant generate?
The facility's 9.2-gigawatt capacity is substantial enough to supply electricity to millions of American homes, making it a critical addition to the nation's energy infrastructure.[2]
Why is Japan investing in this Ohio project?
The investment is part of a broader U.S.-Japan trade and investment framework in which Japan has pledged $550 billion in U.S. investments. The three initial projects, including the Portsmouth plant, were selected to strengthen U.S. industrial and energy security as part of a strategic trade deal that lowered U.S. tariffs on Japanese imports to 15%.[1]
What other major projects are planned for southern Ohio?
Beyond the Portsmouth gas plant, southern Ohio is set to host advanced nuclear reactors in Pike County and multiple data centers across the region, transforming it into a major national energy and digital infrastructure hub.[2]
How will the project be financed?
The financing structure will include equity, loans, and loan guarantees from Japanese state-backed agencies, including the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance.[1] However, specific details about how much of the project will be funded by Japanese entities and under what conditions remain unsettled.[1]
When is the project expected to be completed?
The search results do not provide a specific timeline for the Portsmouth Powered Land Project's completion. Development and construction timelines for projects of this scale typically span several years, but official project schedules have not been publicly released.
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 4:41:03 PM
The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that Japan would invest $33 billion in a 9.2-gigawatt natural gas power plant near Portsmouth, Ohio, as the first major project under a broader $550 billion U.S.-Japan trade deal that reduced tariffs on Japanese imports to 15%[3][4]. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick characterized the facility as "perhaps the largest ever," while Japan's economic and trade minister Ryosei Akazawa emphasized that "all of these projects involve Japan and the United States working together to build supply chains in strategically important fields"[1][3]. The project, to be operated by SB Energy (a SoftBank subsidiary
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 4:51:06 PM
I cannot provide the market reactions and stock price movements you've requested, as the search results do not contain information about stock market responses or specific price movements following the announcement of Japan's $33 billion Ohio power plant investment. The search results focus on project details, the investment framework, and industry implications, but lack financial market data needed to fulfill this query.
To provide an accurate breaking news update on market reactions, I would need sources that include stock performance data, analyst commentary on market movements, or financial market coverage from the announcement period.
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 5:01:18 PM
The Department of Commerce announced the $33 billion Portsmouth Powered Land Project as the flagship investment under a broader $550 billion U.S.-Japan trade framework tied to a tariff reduction deal that lowered U.S. duties on Japanese imports to 15%.[1][2] The Department of Energy has introduced "Emergency Capacity Auctions" requiring tech companies to enter "take-or-pay" contracts, which will guarantee revenue for SB Energy while maintaining stable residential electricity rates.[1] President Trump framed the project's feasibility through tariff policy, writing on Truth Social that "the scale of these projects are so large, and could not be done without one very special word, TARIFFS."[
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 5:11:13 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Japan's $33B Ohio Power Plant Reshapes U.S. Energy Competition**
SoftBank's SB Energy is set to build the **largest natural gas-fired power plant in U.S. history** at 9.2 GW in Portsmouth, Ohio—dwarfing Florida Power & Light’s current leader, the 3.7 GW West County Energy Center—potentially sidelining smaller projects amid warnings of crowding out private capital.[1][3][4][6] This $33 billion flagship under Japan's $550 billion U.S. pledge, announced February 12, 2026, integrates with PJM grid auctions requiring tech firms' "take-or-pay" contracts, tilting the **AI power rac
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 5:21:18 PM
I cannot provide expert analysis and industry opinions based on the search results provided, as they contain no statements from energy sector analysts, industry experts, or independent commentators regarding the Portsmouth Powered Land Project. The search results only include official announcements from the U.S. Department of Commerce and Trump administration statements, without third-party expert assessment of the project's implications, feasibility, or market impact.
To deliver the news update you've requested with substantive expert analysis, I would need search results containing commentary from energy industry analysts, utility sector experts, or independent researchers evaluating this $33 billion natural gas facility.
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 5:31:18 PM
I cannot provide the market reactions and stock price movements you've requested because the search results do not contain this information. The available sources focus on the project announcement itself—including the $33 billion cost, 9.2-gigawatt capacity, and SoftBank's involvement—but do not include stock market data, investor reactions, or pricing movements for any relevant companies.
To deliver an accurate news update with concrete financial market details, I would need search results covering stock performance for SoftBank, SB Energy, or related companies following this announcement.
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 5:41:19 PM
Japan has committed $33 billion to construct the **Portsmouth Powered Land Project**, a 9.2-gigawatt natural gas-fired power facility near Portsmouth, Ohio, marking the largest gas-fired generating facility in U.S. history and the flagship investment under Tokyo's broader $550 billion U.S. commitment[2][3]. SB Energy, a SoftBank subsidiary, will operate the facility, which is designed to supply the PJM Interconnection grid with capacity equivalent to approximately nine nuclear reactors, with groundbreaking scheduled for late 2026 and first-phase generation expected by 2028[2][3]. Critics warn the project's scale could crowd out private capital investment in
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 5:51:19 PM
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced the Portsmouth Powered Land Project as the first major execution of Japan's $550 billion investment pledge, with President Trump declaring on Truth Social that "Japan is now officially, and financially, moving forward with the FIRST set of Investments under its $550 BILLION Dollar Commitment to invest in the United States of America."[4] The Department of Energy has introduced "Emergency Capacity Auctions" requiring tech companies to enter "take-or-pay" contracts that will guarantee revenue for SB Energy while maintaining stable residential electricity rates.[1] The three-project initial tranche totals approximately $36 billion and includes the 9.2-gigawatt Ohio gas
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 6:01:32 PM
**LIVE UPDATE: U.S. Commerce Department Approves Japan's $33B Ohio Power Plant as First Under $550B Trade Pledge**
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced Tuesday that Japan's $33 billion natural gas-fired power plant near Portsmouth, Ohio—with a 9.2 gigawatt capacity, billed as the largest ever—leads the initial $36 billion wave of three projects under a U.S.-Japan trade deal that cut U.S. tariffs on Japanese imports to 15%[1][2][3][5]. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed final details were hashed out last week with Japan's economic and trade minister Ryosei Akazawa, who stated, “All of these projects involve Japan an
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 6:11:14 PM
**BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: Japan's $33B Ohio Power Plant Leads $36B U.S. Investment Wave**
The U.S. Commerce Department announced Tuesday that Japan is funding the $33 billion Portsmouth Powered Land Project, a record-breaking 9.2-gigawatt natural gas-fired power plant near Portsmouth, Ohio, operated by SoftBank subsidiary SB Energy—the largest of its kind, capable of powering about 7.5 million homes.[1][2][3][4][5] This headlines three projects totaling $36 billion under a new U.S.-Japan trade deal slashing tariffs to 15%, including a $2.1 billion Texas deepwater oil terminal projected to enable $20-30 billion in annual crude exports and a
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 6:21:14 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Ohio Reacts to Japan's $33B Power Plant Pledge**
Ohio residents and officials are hailing Japan's $33 billion investment in the 9.2-gigawatt Portsmouth natural gas power plant as a major economic boon, with the Vindy editorial calling it "exciting news" that positions the state to benefit from the U.S.-Japan trade deal's first $36 billion wave[1]. Local leaders express optimism for job creation and supply chain growth, quoting Japan's Minister Ryosei Akazawa: “All of these projects involve Japan and the United States working together to build supply chains in strategically important fields.”[1] While some consumers voice cautious support amid environmental concerns over the massive facilit
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 6:31:25 PM
Japan's $33 billion investment in a massive natural gas power facility near Portsmouth, Ohio, represents the first major execution of a broader $550 billion U.S.-Japan trade deal negotiated between President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi[2]. The 9.2-gigawatt plant—the largest gas-fired generating facility in U.S. history—signals Japan's strategic commitment to securing energy infrastructure for artificial intelligence development, with Japanese industrial giants Hitachi and Toshiba providing advanced turbines and grid-integration technology[2]. The project is part of a three-pronged $36 billion investment package that also includes a $2.1 billion deepwater crude
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 6:41:29 PM
Japan has committed $33 billion to fund a **9.2-gigawatt natural gas power complex** near Portsmouth, Ohio, described as the largest gas-fired generating facility in history, marking the first major investment under Tokyo's $550 billion U.S. capital pledge tied to a trade deal that reduced American tariffs on Japanese imports to 15%[1][2]. The project, to be operated by SB Energy (a SoftBank Group subsidiary), represents a significant competitive shift in U.S. energy infrastructure, as it tops two other strategic investments—a $2.1 billion Texas deepwater crude oil export terminal and a $600 million Georgia synthetic diamond facility—that together comprise the initial $
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 6:51:27 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Japan's $33B Ohio Power Plant Reshapes AI Energy Competition**
SB Energy, a SoftBank subsidiary, is launching the 9.2-GW Portsmouth Powered Land Project—the largest natural gas-fired facility in U.S. history—explicitly to power AI data centers amid surging demand on the PJM grid, outpacing traditional nuclear-scale plants (equivalent to nine reactors) and forcing tech giants into "take-or-pay" contracts via new DOE Emergency Capacity Auctions.[1][4] This $33 billion initiative, first under Japan's $550 billion U.S. pledge, edges out rivals by securing grid dominance through Japanese-financed pipeline and transmission upgrades in Ohio Valley, while two smaller projects—a $
🔄 Updated: 2/19/2026, 7:01:32 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Japan's $33B Ohio Power Plant Draws Expert Praise Amid $550B U.S. Pact**
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hailed the $33 billion Portsmouth Powered Land Project—a 9.2-gigawatt natural gas facility operated by SoftBank subsidiary SB Energy—as "perhaps the largest ever," topping the initial $36 billion tranche of Japan's $550 billion U.S. investment pledge under a new trade deal that cut tariffs to 15%[1][2][3]. Japan's Economic and Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa emphasized collaboration, stating, “All of these projects involve Japan and the United States working together to build supply chains in strategically important fields,” signaling more announcements possibl