Power Approval Could Delay Oracle’s Wisconsin AI Datacenter

Summary

Oracle’s planned Wisconsin AI datacenter could miss its target of delivering capacity to customers in the second half of 2027 because the transmission infrastructure needed to power the campus is still awaiting regulatory approval. The site, known as Project Lighthouse, is being developed by Vantage in Port Washington with Oracle as tenant. American Transmission Company must receive approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin before it can build the grid connection, and its original application was closed after the commission withdrew a finding that the filing was complete; ATC refiled in September. The campus is rated for 902 MW of computing load and 1.3 GW of total electricity demand, while ATC’s related Wisconsin transmission projects exceed $2 billion. Aterio’s earliest scenario provides partial power in October 2027 and full supply in August 2028, but its base case moves those dates to December 2027 and October 2028; an extended review could push them to June 2028 and April 2029. Because buildings require electrical and cooling tests before carrying customer workloads, Aterio expects the main load ramp to begin in the first quarter of 2028. Separately, Bloomberg reported that Oracle issued a force majeure notice concerning Project Jupiter in New Mexico and sought to defer payments if the campus misses its schedule, although Oracle says that project remains on track. Oracle could also face more than $100 million a year in financing costs for Wisconsin power commitments. The company reported $55.7 billion in fiscal 2026 capital expenditure and guided for up to $95 billion in fiscal 2027 capex.