U.S. Department of Energy launches $100 billion AI data center project in Kentucky

The U.S. Department of Energy announced a partnership to redevelop the Paducah Site in Kentucky into a data‑center campus, backed by a $100 billion investment. The project will add affordable, reliable energy infrastructure, generate more electricity than the campus needs, and feed excess power into the regional grid. It is described as one of the largest privately funded investments in Kentucky’s history and is intended to secure the United States’ artificial‑intelligence future.

The plan is expected to create about 8,000 construction jobs and 600 permanent positions. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said the government is leveraging federal lands to add power generation, create jobs and ensure America wins the AI race, while the President’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge aims to lower electricity costs for families and businesses.