Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
The Department of Energy said Thursday it has identified 16 federal sites to potentially build AI data centers and fuel them in part with innovative energy tech.
Why it matters: It could open new possibilities for developers of massive, power-hungry data centers.
Driving the news: The agency filed a request for information, seeking input from tech companies, power developers and the public about siting AI infrastructure on public land.
- The 16 sites include the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Idaho National Lab and Los Alamos National Lab.
- DOE wants to commence operations by the end of 2027 and help companies fast-track permitting for new nuclear and other energy tech, the agency said in a release.
- "The global race for AI dominance is the next Manhattan Project, and with President Trump's leadership and the innovation of our National Labs, the United States can and will win," Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement.
Between the lines: The idea stems from an executive order that then-President Biden issued at the end of his term that opened up DOE and Defense Department land for data center development.
