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.

Public-Private Partnership Opportunities

The DOE is calling on data center developers, energy technology innovators, utilities, local governments, Tribal representatives, and other stakeholders to respond to the RFI. Responses will help shape future solicitations, inform site-specific infrastructure planning, and unlock economic, environmental, and technological collaboration opportunities.

The initiative is also expected to unlock benefits such as:

  • Accelerated AI research through partnerships with DOE national labs
  • Deployment of energy innovation like nuclear SMRs, geothermal systems, and advanced grid technologies
  • Regional economic development through job creation and tax revenue
  • Sustainability-focused design including liquid cooling, industrial ecology, and heat reuse

A National AI Infrastructure Blueprint

From the Idaho National Laboratory to the Brookhaven and Argonne National Labs, the sites under consideration span nearly every region in the country. These sites collectively represent:

  • Billions in existing infrastructure
  • Thousands of acres of secure, developable land
  • Energy sources ranging from hydro and nuclear to solar and storage-ready microgrids
  • Proximity to high-capacity power transmission and dark fiber networks

This isn’t just about AI or data centers—it’s about a unified strategy to lead the world in digital infrastructure and clean energy simultaneously.

Get Involved

The DOE invites interested parties to submit responses to the RFI via email at aiinfrastructure@hq.doe.gov with the subject line “Data Center RFI Response.” Submissions are due within 30 days of publication in the Federal Register.