OpenAI will stop requiring NDAs from public officials on future company-owned compute campuses.
Why it matters: The pledge comes as voters and policymakers push back against data-center growth over electricity, water, noise, land use and taxpayer costs. It could reshape permitting, disclosure and community negotiations for AI infrastructure.
- OpenAI announced the policy November 5, 2026, with exceptions for security information, trade secrets and competitively sensitive information.
- The company will publish site-level water and electricity use, construction plans, noise studies, economic impacts and annual progress reports.
- Voters passed data-center bans or restrictions in at least 38 U.S. jurisdictions on November 3, according to The Washington Post.
- OpenAI cites $80 million for community priorities in Effingham County, Georgia, and $40 million in Pike County, Ohio.
OpenAI says, "We will not use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with public officials" when discussing or negotiating future compute-campus sites. The pledge applies to campuses the company owns and operates, with narrow exceptions for legitimate security information, trade secrets, proprietary information and competitively sensitive information. OpenAI's National Community Compact does not establish that the policy automatically binds independent infrastructure partners.
The compact promises early resident engagement, a local point of contact and annual public progress reports. OpenAI says future campuses will disclose water and electricity use, construction plans, noise studies, economic impacts and workforce strategies. It also says it will pay the full cost of electricity and infrastructure needed to serve its campuses, and provide financial assurances against costs to other utility customers if a project is delayed, reduced or canceled.
A separate policy blueprint recommends that governments require large electricity users to pay incremental grid costs, protect ratepayers from stranded infrastructure expenses and make tax-incentive terms public.
The announcement followed widespread election setbacks for data-center developers. The Washington Post counted restrictions in at least 38 jurisdictions, while Reuters reported that 40 of 41 data-center-related ballot measures went against the industry.
OpenAI says its Pike County project could create 2,500 long-term operating jobs averaging $80,000 annually and 26,000 construction jobs. Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane said hardware would need upgrades every three to five years, creating recurring employment and supplier demand.
By the numbers
- 38 jurisdictions - At least that many passed data-center bans or restrictions, according to The Washington Post.
- 40 of 41 ballot measures - Reuters reported that nearly all data-center-related measures went against the industry.
- $80 million and $40 million - OpenAI's cited community commitments in Effingham County, Georgia, and Pike County, Ohio.
Yes, but: The pledge is voluntary, has no specified enforcement mechanism or independent auditor, and may not cover partner-operated facilities. The relationship between the election results and the announcement is also not definitive: Reuters reported the policies had been in development since August.
What's next: OpenAI says every future compute campus it owns and operates will have a locally tailored community compact. The practical impact will depend on local permitting rules, utility agreements and whether infrastructure partners adopt equivalent standards.