DOE Opens the Door to Next-Gen Data Centers: 16 Federal Sites Identified for AI Infrastructure Development

Originally posted on Data Center POST.

Federal Initiative Aims to Remove Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on behalf of the Federal Government is reinforcing its leadership in artificial intelligence and energy innovation by identifying 16 federal sites across the country as candidates for advanced data center and AI infrastructure development. The initiative—anchored in a new Request for Information (RFI) and in alignment with the January 2025 Executive Order “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence”—signals a strategic push to co-locate AI-ready data centers with cutting-edge energy resources on federally managed lands.

According to the DOE’s official announcement, the effort leverages existing energy infrastructure, fast-tracked permitting opportunities (including for nuclear), and the unmatched R&D capabilities of DOE’s national labs. The goal: have construction underway by the end of 2025 and fully operational AI infrastructure online by the end of 2027.

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