The US Department of Energy is repurposing a Cold War-era uranium processing plant into a hub for artificial intelligence data centers. The move turns a site once central to nuclear weapons production into a home for the energy-hungry computing that powers modern AI systems.
A relic of the atomic age
The plant was built during the Cold War to enrich uranium for the nation's nuclear arsenal. After decades of operation, it was idled as weapons production wound down. Now the DOE sees an opportunity to put the site's existing power infrastructure and secure location to new use. AI data centers require enormous amounts of electricity — far more than typical commercial buildings — and the plant's electrical substations and cooling systems are well suited for that load.
Why the site fits AI's needs
Data centers that train and run large language models can consume as much power as a small city. The uranium plant sits on a large tract of land with high-capacity transmission lines already in place. That avoids the years-long permitting process needed to build new power infrastructure from scratch. The DOE also controls the site, which simplifies security and regulatory hurdles. The department says the conversion will help meet growing demand from tech companies while making use of a facility that otherwise would sit idle.
What the conversion involves
The plan calls for leasing portions of the plant to private companies that will build and operate data centers. The DOE will retain ownership of the land and provide the power connections. The site's existing electrical equipment will be upgraded to handle modern loads. Environmental cleanup of Cold War-era contamination is already underway and will continue as the conversion proceeds. The department expects the project to create hundreds of construction and operations jobs in the region.
Timeline and next steps
The DOE has not set a firm completion date. It is currently evaluating proposals from potential partners and expects to announce a developer within the next year. The first data center modules could come online within three to five years, depending on the pace of environmental remediation and infrastructure upgrades. The department is also working with local utilities to ensure the grid can support the additional demand without straining residential or commercial customers.
One open question is how the conversion will balance the need for clean energy with the site's legacy of radioactive waste. The plant sits on a Superfund list, and some environmental groups have raised concerns about disturbing contaminated areas. The DOE says it will follow all federal and state environmental regulations and that the data center construction will actually help fund further cleanup efforts.
