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U.S. Identifies 16 Federal Sites for AI Data Centers and Nuclear Power Development

The Department of Energy aims to launch operations by 2027, prioritizing nuclear energy as it partners with private companies to address AI's growing power demands.

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Words reading "Artificial intelligence AI", miniature of robot and toy hand are pictured in this illustration taken December 14, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright visits the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory campus in Golden, Colorado, on April 3, 2025. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
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Overview

  • The Department of Energy has designated 16 federal sites, including Los Alamos and Oak Ridge, for AI data centers and nuclear power plants.
  • This initiative builds on a Biden-era executive order but shifts focus under the Trump administration to prioritize nuclear energy over other renewable sources.
  • The DOE plans to leverage existing energy infrastructure at these sites to accelerate permitting and construction, with private-public partnerships central to funding and development.
  • AI data centers are projected to consume up to 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028, highlighting the urgency of expanding energy capacity.
  • The effort underscores the U.S. government's strategic push to maintain global leadership in AI, likened to the Manhattan Project in scale and importance.