Full Breakdown
Kentucky’s $100 B AI Data Center Project Takes Shape at Former Uranium Site
8/1/2026, 11:27:22 AM
Project Overview
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and a private coalition are redeveloping the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in western Kentucky into an AI data-center campus. The $100 billion plan includes a 1.8-GW hyperscale data center, a 2-GW natural-gas power plant and 2.6 GW of battery storage. The data-center will sit on roughly 600 acres, with 200 acres for power generation and 300 acres for storage. Brookfield Asset Management will build and operate the data center; NextEra Energy will construct and own the power infrastructure. Local utilities—including Big Rivers Electric Power Corp., Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative and Paducah Power System—will provide electric service.
Background & Context
The 3,550-acre Paducah site, a former uranium enrichment facility that shut down in 2013, has been under DOE-directed cleanup. A similar AI-data-center project was announced at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Ohio, reflecting a broader federal push to locate high-performance computing on U.S. soil.
Key Participants
- Brookfield Asset Management – developer/operator of the data-center campus.
- NextEra Energy – builder/owner of the power plant and battery storage.
- Big Rivers Electric Power Corp. – wholesale electric service provider.
- Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative – retail electric service provider.
- Paducah Power System – community partner for local distribution.
- U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright – DOE spokesperson.
Data & Statistics
- Investment: $100 billion.
- Construction jobs: 8,000 temporary positions.
- Permanent jobs: 600 full-time positions.
- Compute capacity: up to 1.8 GW; total utility capacity up to 4.6 GW.
- Battery storage: 2.6 GW.
- Land use: 600 acres (data center), 200 acres (power), 300 acres (storage).
- Cleanup cost projection: about $17 billion, targeted for completion by 2065.
Official Statements & Responses
DOE officials said the public-private partnership will continue site remediation while supporting the new infrastructure.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This new campus helps secure our nation’s position as a global leader in innovation,” — Chris Wright, energy secretary
- “Demand for critical infrastructure that accelerates innovation in the United States and supports the economy will need to be met with capital, development capabilities and additional power generation that benefits local communities,” — Bruce Flatt, CEO of Brookfield
Timeline
- Late July – DOE announced the Paducah AI data-center project and held a site celebration.
- July 29 – Celebration took place; Governor Beshear was absent.
- Early 2030s – Construction slated for completion; sources cite 2031-2032, while DOE refers to “early 2030s.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Completion date: Varies between 2031, 2032 and “early 2030s.”
- Data-center tenant: No tenant announced; Brookfield and NextEra have not responded to inquiries.
- Regulatory approval: A power-service agreement still requires Kentucky Public Service Commission approval; timeline not detailed.
What’s Next
State utility regulators must approve the power-service agreement before construction can begin. The DOE expects site cleanup to finish by 2065, with the AI campus operating alongside remediation. Ongoing monitoring will assess how the project’s energy generation and storage integrate with the regional grid and whether the projected economic benefits materialize for local communities.
