The Department of Energy announced the federal lands it will use to host new data centers outfitted for artificial intelligence computing needs, selecting four facilities, including two national labs.
Confirmed on Thursday, the facilities includeIdaho National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Reservation, Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and Savannah River Site, where private sector partners will develop AI data center and energy generation infrastructure.
“By leveraging DOE land assets for the deployment of AI and energy infrastructure, we are taking a bold step to accelerate the next Manhattan Project — ensuring U.S. AI and energy leadership,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in the press release. “These sites are uniquely positioned to host data centers as well as power generation to bolster grid reliability, strengthen our national security, and reduce energy costs.”
Each location was selected in part due to its existing infrastructure following an April request for information published by Energy. The push to construct new AI-specific data centers are a result of President Donald Trump’s latest executive order on AI, signed on Wednesday evening.
