DOE Identifies 16 Sites for AI Data Centers and Nuclear Power Development

The Trump administration accelerates plans to address AI-driven energy demand, repurposing Cold War-era sites for clean energy and AI infrastructure by 2027.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced 16 sites on federal lands for the development of AI-related infrastructure, including data centers and power plants.
The initiative includes plans to fast-track permitting for nuclear reactors to meet the rising energy demands driven by AI growth.
The identified sites include locations previously used for Cold War-era nuclear activities, such as the Idaho National Laboratory and facilities in Kentucky and Ohio.
The DOE is seeking input from private developers and the public to facilitate construction, aiming for operations to begin by late 2027.
Framed as part of a global race for AI dominance, the effort has been likened to the Manhattan Project by Energy Secretary Chris Wright.