Overview

• 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.