Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a partnership with Brookfield, NextEra Energy, Big Rivers Electric Power Corporation, Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative, and Paducah Power System to redevelop parts of the DOE’s Paducah Site in Kentucky into a data center campus with expanded affordable energy infrastructure. This privately funded investment exceeds $100 billion—one of Kentucky’s largest—expected to generate about 8,000 construction jobs and 600 permanent jobs.
According to the DOE, NextEra Energy will develop 2 gigawatts (GW) of new grid-connected natural gas-fired power generation, upgrade existing transmission infrastructure, and deploy up to 2.6 GW of battery energy storage. These capacities will support a new 1.8 GW artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) innovation campus on site.
The project aligns with President Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, aiming to create generation and storage capacity exceeding the campus's energy needs. Surplus electricity will be supplied to the regional grid, with the goal of reducing energy costs for families and businesses.
DOE Secretary Chris Wright emphasized the importance of leveraging federal assets to build power generation, create jobs, and strengthen U.S. competitiveness in AI. The project is part of DOE’s American Energy Hubs initiative, which repurposes former DOE sites for affordable energy production, tech innovation, manufacturing, and local economic development.
U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) expressed support for the investment, noting its potential to create jobs and drive long-term economic growth in Paducah and Kentucky. He recognized the collaboration among federal, state, local, and private partners in this development.