The US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environment Management (EM) and Office of Science (SC) have issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) from companies to build and power AI data centres at DOE’s Oak Ridge Reservation.
The Oak Ridge Reservation is one of four sites (Idaho National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Reservation, Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and Savannah River Site) identified by the DOE in July for AI infrastructure and generation projects on federal land. SC and EM are now seeking proposals from US companies to potentially enter into one or more long-term leasing agreements at the site that would be solely funded by the applicants.
“This RFP represents more than a ground lease for AI data centre development, it offers US companies a potential chance to anchor their partnership with one of our nation’s greatest assets, our National Labs, said Under Secretary for Science Dr Darío Gil. “From its Manhattan project roots to its present leadership in advanced computing, Oak Ridge exemplifies the continuum of American innovation that will help power the AI revolution.” said Under Secretary for Science Dr Darío Gil.
“As one of the original Manhattan Project sites, Oak Ridge is now poised to play a role in what has been dubbed Manhattan Project 2.0 as the Department ushers in a golden era of American energy to fuel the AI race,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management Joel Bradburne. “This is the next step forward in the transformation from nuclear remediation site to nuclear renaissance hub.”
Two sites are available for consideration on the Oak Ridge Reservation, one at the East Tennessee Technology Park and the other on land adjacent to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Applicants will be responsible for building, operating, and decommissioning each infrastructure project and must secure utility interconnection agreements for new power generation and storage systems. Proposals will be competitively evaluated for technological readiness, financial viability, and detailed plans to complete regulatory and permitting requirements. Proposals are due by 1 December.
