Lighthouse data center campus (Port Washington)
Also called: Vantage Lighthouse, Stargate Wisconsin, OpenAI/Oracle Port Washington
Vantage Data Centers is building a $15 billion AI data center campus for OpenAI and Oracle on about 670 acres in Port Washington. It plans four buildings that need about 1.3 gigawatts of power. A $1.4 billion power line project has been proposed to serve it.
Where things stand: Under construction since late 2025; finish expected around 2028.
🕒 Latest update (April 7, 2026): City voters approved a referendum that requires a public vote on future TIF districts over $10 million. It does not affect this project.
What we know
- 📍 WherePort Washington, Ozaukee County
- 🏢 CompanyVantage Data Centers
- 👤 Built forOpenAI and Oracle
- 🌳 Size670 acres
- ⚡ Power it needs1,300 megawatts (about as much as 1,040,000 homes)
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromWe Energies; Vantage said it would pay for all the power upgrades through a special electric rate.
- 🗼 New power linesYes
- ❄️ Coolingclosed-loop liquid cooling
- 💵 Cost$15 billion
- 💸 Tax breaksThe city approved a $458 million tax increment financing (TIF) district to support the project.
- 👷 Jobs promised1,000
- 🤐 Secret deal (NDA)No
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- How much water will the campus use per day? 🙋 I'll find out
- How many diesel backup generators will be on site? 🙋 I'll find out
- What is the route of the proposed new power line? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- 2025A ceremonial groundbreaking was held in late 2025. Residents started an effort to recall the mayor.
- Aug 2025The Port Washington Common Council approved the development agreement.
- Oct 23, 2025Vantage, OpenAI and Oracle announced the $15 billion Lighthouse campus as part of the Stargate AI project.
- April 7, 2026City voters approved a referendum that requires a public vote on future TIF districts over $10 million. It does not affect this project.
Local votes and rules
🗳️ Public vote
Port Washington voters approved a resident-led rule, 2,710 to 1,371, that makes any new tax deal (TIF district) over $10 million need voter approval. Residents pushed for it after the city made a $458 million TIF district for the OpenAI-Oracle data center. That project is not affected. Business groups sued to stop the vote, but a judge let it go ahead.
🗳️ Election
A resident group opposed to the Lighthouse data center filed a petition to recall Port Washington's mayor. The city clerk said it was several hundred signatures short of the 1,591 needed, so no recall election was held.
🤝 Agreement with the company
Port Washington's Common Council approved the development deal for the $15 billion Vantage 'Lighthouse' data center campus, later tied to OpenAI and Oracle. The city also made a tax deal (TIF district) to help pay for it.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- ChatGPT maker, Oracle are tenants of $15 billion Port Washington data center · Urban Milwaukee / Wisconsin Public Radio · Oct 23, 2025
- Controversial $15 billion data center breaks ground in Port Washington · TMJ4
- Port Washington data center referendum · Civic Media · April 8, 2026
- At least four Wisconsin communities signed secrecy deals for data centers · Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service / Wisconsin Watch · Feb 1, 2026
- Data Centers Power Wisconsin Construction Boom Despite Public Backlash · Urban Milwaukee / Wisconsin Public Radio · Sept 30, 2026
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