The Energy Communities Alliance has given its qualified support to a Department of Energy initiative to encourage development of data centers, used for artificial intelligence, on weapons complex installations.
“ECA supports the AI infrastructure initiative and DOE’s commitment to engage with local public officials as a channel for DOE to create private sector deployment opportunities,” said West Richland, Wash., Mayor and Energy Communities Alliance Chair Brent Gerry in comments filed May 7.
“This is a big step forward for DOE to help facilitate economic development in energy communities and accelerate the reuse of site land neighboring these communities,” Gerry went on to say in ECA’s formal comments to an April request for information. “ECA asks DOE to expand the DOE Initiative to all current and former DOE sites that are interested.”
In April, Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced DOE was seeking public input on the suitability of 16 federal installations, mostly weapons complex sites, as potential homes for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. DOE also said it is exploring the idea of using on-site energy generated by nuclear power for the data centers.
Since President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, DOE has been silent on whether it would retain the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative rolled out by the Joe Biden administration. That program encouraged carbon-free power projects at weapons complex sites. Lease negotiations were announced with several companies.
ECA, which represents localities around DOE federal installations, has been generally supportive of policies that would economically benefit the locals around DOE sites.
“Again, ECA appreciates the opportunity to provide input, and we appreciate DOE’s effort to drive economic development in communities that neighbor DOE and NNSA [National Nuclear Security Administration] sites,” Gerry went on to say in the data center comments. “ECA welcomes the opportunity to help facilitate this initiative and associated opportunities.”
