The demand for electricity in U.S. data centers has tripled in the past decade and is projected to double or triple again by 2028, potentially consuming up to 12% of the nation's electricity.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched an initiative to co-locate data centers with energy infrastructure on federal lands, aimed at bolstering American leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reducing energy costs.

This initiative follows an executive order signed by former President Joe Biden in January 2025, which seeks to facilitate AI data center expansion while promoting renewable energy sources.

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright emphasized the importance of this initiative, likening the global race for AI dominance to the Manhattan Project, asserting that the U.S. can lead with the support of its National Labs.

Despite efforts to roll back many of Biden's AI policies, former President Trump has expressed support for the data center initiative, indicating a bipartisan interest in utilizing federal lands for such projects.

The DOE is actively seeking feedback from data center developers and the public to inform strategies for constructing dedicated AI facilities, with plans to begin construction by the end of 2025.

In Japan, NTT has begun construction on a new 50MW data center campus in Shiroi City, Chiba, expected to support AI and cloud computing by April 2027.

Both the Biden and Trump administrations are focused on advancing the licensing and construction of new nuclear reactors to provide carbon-free energy for these data centers.

The DOE has identified 16 potential sites across the country for rapid data center construction, including national laboratories like Los Alamos and Oak Ridge, which are crucial for AI-related research.

The DOE plans to establish public-private partnerships to leverage national labs and enhance both energy systems and data center technology.

The DOE has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather insights on development approaches and technology solutions for AI infrastructure, aiming to meet the increasing demand for data centers.

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios stated that the Trump Administration is committed to leveraging federal resources to develop necessary data infrastructure for an AI-driven future.