OpenAI Announces AI Infrastructure Compact and Blueprint

OpenAI has published its National Community Compact and Compute Campus Policy Blueprint to guide how the company builds future compute infrastructure that it owns and operates.

The National Community Compact outlines commitments for OpenAI's upcoming campuses. Under the compact, OpenAI states it will engage local residents early in project planning, assign a local point of contact, and release annual progress reports. The company commits to covering the full cost of its electricity and related infrastructure, while providing financial assurances before major spending to protect other utility customers if projects face delay, reduction, or cancellation.

For resource management, OpenAI will create site-specific water plans, prioritize closed-loop or low-water cooling systems, and publish data on local water and electricity consumption. It also commits to publishing construction plans and noise studies conducted independently before and during campus operations. Additionally, OpenAI states it will not use non-disclosure agreements with public officials, except for narrow protections covering security, trade secrets, or proprietary information.

The announcement includes specific examples from previous commitments started in January. In Effingham County, Georgia, resident input led to a $4.8 million grant providing free school meals to 14,000 students. In Pike County, Ohio, OpenAI and SB Energy established a joint $6 million commitment focused on local childcare. OpenAI's agreement with Georgia Power at the planned Effingham County site allows the utility to reduce power delivery by up to 1,000 megawatts during high-demand periods.

The accompanying Compute Campus Policy Blueprint urges local, state, and federal policymakers to establish rules across the industry. The blueprint recommends that utility commissions require large electricity users to pay for grid additions and protect existing ratepayers. It calls for public reporting on water, energy, noise, and hiring, alongside public terms for tax incentives with recovery mechanisms if commitments are missed. It also suggests sharing purchasing plans early so local suppliers can compete for contracts.