LOS ALAMOS — In a strategic push to advance artificial intelligence infrastructure, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced 16 federal sites — including iconic nuclear research hubs like Los Alamos National Laboratory — as potential locations for AI data center development.
These federally owned sites are described as “uniquely suited for rapid data center construction”, with established energy infrastructure and the capability to fast-track permitting for new power sources, including nuclear energy, according to the department’s statement.
The initiative follows a January executive order from then-President Joe Biden, aimed at removing barriers for AI data center growth and encouraging the use of clean energy to power these high-consumption facilities. While President Donald Trump, now back in office, has reversed many of Biden’s AI policies, he voiced support for this specific directive, stating:
“I’d like to see federal lands opened up for data centers. I think they’re going to be very important.”
Among the proposed sites are national labs like Sandia in New Mexico and Oak Ridge in Tennessee — locations already known for their deep tech and energy capabilities.
As the demand for computing power grows exponentially with the rise of generative AI, the need for robust infrastructure has become critical. Unlike traditional data centers used for online services, AI models require significantly more processing power, storage, and energy.
A DOE report from late last year warned that U.S. data center electricity use has tripled in the past decade and could double or even triple again by 2028, potentially consuming up to 12% of the nation’s electricity.
This move is seen as a step toward balancing innovation with energy sustainability, offering tech firms a faster, more scalable path to expand their AI operations — powered, potentially, by clean or nuclear energy.