According to Engineering News-Record, Bechtel and Kiewit have been selected to build the PORTS Technology Campus on the 3,700-acre former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site in Piketon, Ohio. The project calls for 10 GW of data center capacity and 9.2 GW of new natural gas generation, backed by a public-private partnership involving DOE, the Commerce Department, SoftBank, AEP Ohio, and roughly $33 billion in Japanese investment. Construction is expected to begin this year.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Electrical, mechanical, and civil subs should watch for procurement packages flowing from Bechtel and Kiewit, both of whom routinely tier work to regional specialty contractors on large EPC projects.
- Natural gas pipeline, compression, and power generation subs are well-positioned given the 9.2 GW gas plant component and existing high-voltage infrastructure already on site.
- Site prep, earthworks, and environmental remediation contractors may find early-phase opportunities tied to ongoing decommissioning work before major construction ramps up.
