DOE Identifies 16 Federal Sites for AI Data Centers Powered by Nuclear Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has identified 16 federal sites as potential locations for Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centers. These sites include prominent locations such as Los Alamos and Oak Ridge National Laboratories. These locations were selected due to their existing energy infrastructure, which includes nuclear power, and the potential for expedited permitting for new energy generation. The initiative aims to address the rapidly increasing electricity demand of data centers in the U.S. Data centers' electricity consumption has tripled over the past decade, and projections indicate they could consume up to 12% of the nation's total electricity by 2028. By leveraging federal lands and carbon-free energy sources, particularly nuclear power, the DOE seeks to accelerate AI development while ensuring a sustainable energy supply for these energy-intensive facilities.