The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) inviting companies to submit plans for the development and operation of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and related energy projects at the Oak Ridge Reservation in Tennessee.
This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Trump Administration to strengthen American leadership in AI, supported by executive orders aimed at reducing barriers to AI advancement and promoting domestic energy resources through the use of federal land assets for technology infrastructure.
Oak Ridge is one of four DOE-identified sites nationwide intended for such projects. The Office of Science and the Office of Environmental Management are seeking proposals from U.S.-based firms interested in long-term leases, with all funding responsibilities falling on applicants.
“This RFP represents more than a ground lease for AI data center development, it offers U.S. companies a potential chance to anchor their partnership with one of our nation’s greatest assets, our National Labs. 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. DarĂo Gil. “With President Trump’s leadership, the Department is advancing America’s energy abundance together with the gold standard science of our labs to secure U.S. leadership in the new age of artificial intelligence and energy dominance.”
“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. The Department of Energy is excited to partner with the best of American industry to bring this vision to reality.”
Two specific locations are available within Oak Ridge: one at East Tennessee Technology Park and another adjacent to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Applicants will be required to handle all aspects of construction, operation, and decommissioning for each project, as well as obtain necessary utility interconnection agreements for new power generation and storage systems. Proposals will be evaluated based on technical feasibility, financial stability, and comprehensive regulatory plans.
Interested parties must submit proposals by December 1, 2025. An industry day event will be held on October 15, 2025, providing details about application requirements and offering site tours; registration is required via email contact with Steve Cooke at steve.cooke@orem.doe.gov.
Further information about this solicitation can be found HERE.
