OpenAI has formally communicated its commitment to responsible AI infrastructure development in Texas, sending a letter to Governor Greg Abbott that outlines plans for reliable, transparent growth designed to benefit local communities. The move comes as the company’s massive Stargate project continues to expand across the state, raising both economic hopes and resource concerns.
The letter isn’t just a goodwill gesture. It arrives at a moment when Texas is grappling with the very real consequences of becoming one of America’s most important AI hubs, from water usage to electricity grid strain.
The Stargate footprint in Texas
OpenAI launched the Stargate project in January 2025 with the goal of building substantial AI infrastructure across multiple Texas cities, with Abilene emerging as a key hub. The site is being used to train advanced AI models, including GPT-5.5, running on NVIDIA hardware deployed through Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
The scale of these operations comes with a hefty resource bill. OpenAI’s Abilene facility is projected to consume roughly half the amount of water the entire city uses in a single day, spread across an annual basis. To address this, the company has implemented closed-loop cooling systems designed to minimize water consumption, a particularly important consideration in a state that regularly faces drought conditions.
