DOE Seeks Business Partners for Nuclear-Powered AI Campuses in Tennessee
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a request for proposals (RFP) aimed at private companies to build AI-data centers on federal land in Tennessee, adjacent to Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The move responds to – and operationalizes – a 2024 report by the DOE that warned hyperscale AI facilities increasingly demand 300–1,000 MW of power on tight time-frames and recommended co-locating data infrastructure with advanced power generation such as nuclear, geothermal and long-duration energy storage.
Specifically, the DOE is offering two parcels: one adjacent to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and another at the former uranium-enrichment site East Tennessee Technology Park, both tasked with combining AI infrastructure and on-site power generation. Industry analysts call this a potential template for future AI-datacenter builds where power readiness is integral, but they also caution that using federal land and fast-tracked permitting may bypass community input, local environmental reviews, and broader public value considerations.
Why this matters for The Knoxville AI Hub
The DOE’s initiative positions East Tennessee as a rising national hub for next-generation AI infrastructure. With potential data-center projects at Oak Ridge and the East Tennessee Technology Park, the region stands to gain major investment, new technical careers, and deeper partnerships between ORNL, local universities, and industry. This move signals that federal leaders view the Knoxville–Oak Ridge corridor as strategically vital to high-power, AI-driven innovation. It also highlights the importance of keeping the community informed and involved as these developments shape future opportunities, growth, and policy decisions in the region.
For more detailed information, you can read the full story here: US DOE Advances Data Center Nuclear Program
