The US Department of Energy (DOE) plans to develop data centers and power plants at 16 sites to meet the growing demand for AI infrastructure.

These locations have existing energy infrastructure, which could speed up the permitting process for new energy projects, including nuclear reactors.

However, it is unclear how nuclear power regulations will be expedited.

The selected sites include the Idaho National Laboratory, as well as facilities in Paducah, Kentucky, and Portsmouth, Ohio, which were previously used for uranium production.

The DOE aims to begin construction on AI-related infrastructure by late 2027 and is seeking partnerships with developers, energy companies, and the public.

This initiative is in response to the first significant increase in US power consumption in two decades.