The US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Environmental Management (EM) has issued a Request for Offer (RFO) seeking proposals from companies to build and power AI data centres on DOE’s Paducah site in Kentucky.
The solicitation is part of the Trump Administration’s effort to promote American leadership in AI. It is aligned with Executive Orders, Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence; Unleashing American Energy; and Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure; which leverage federal land assets to quickly deploy data centres and energy generation projects.
The Paducah site is one of four sites identified in July by DOE for AI infrastructure and generation projects on federal land. The other three were Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Oak Ridge Reservation, and Savannah River Site (SRS).
EM is now seeking proposals from U.S. companies to potentially enter into one or more long-term leasing agreements at Paducah that would be solely funded by the applicants. “America is ushering in a golden era of American energy dominance, ensuring the United States remains a global leader in AI and innovation,” said DOE Assistant Secretary for the Office of Environmental Management Tim Walsh. “Paducah has the resources and vision to support the next generation of AI infrastructure, creating new opportunities for prosperity while advancing national security for future generations.”
Applicants will be responsible for building, operating, and decommissioning each infrastructure project and must secure utility interconnection agreements. Proposals will be competitively evaluated for technological readiness, financial viability, and detailed plans to complete regulatory and permitting requirements. RFOs must be submitted by 30 January 2026.
In September, DOE issued a Request for Application (RFA) seeking proposals from US companies to build and power AI data centres at INL. In October, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from US private sector partners to build and power artificial intelligence (AI) data centres at SRS.
