US plans to power AI data centers with advanced nuclear energy

The US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to develop and operate large-scale Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centers powered by advanced nuclear energy. The initiative targets two historic nuclear sites—the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina and the Oak Ridge Reservation in Tennessee—with ten tracts of land at SRS identified for potential development. This effort aims to strengthen American leadership in AI and energy by fostering public-private partnerships that integrate innovative on-site energy generation and storage solutions, aligning with the Department of Energy’s goals for reliable, energy-efficient, and water-conscious operations to meet the substantial power demands of AI technologies. Selected private partners will be responsible for the full lifecycle of the projects, including construction, operation, and decommissioning, and must secure their own utility interconnections. Proposals will be competitively evaluated based on technological readiness, financial viability, and regulatory compliance. The Savannah River Site, historically a key facility for nuclear weapons material production