WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) today announced the selection of Amentum to enter negotiations for a phased lease to develop an artificial intelligence data center and dedicated on-site energy generation source at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The selection follows a competitive request for proposals issued by NNSA for the Savannah River Site Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure and Energy Generation Project.

This project supports the Trump administration’s goals of utilizing Federal lands to lower energy costs and help power the global AI race, as outlined in President Trump’s Executive Orders on Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure, Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security, and Unleashing American Energy.

“This proposed partnership represents an opportunity to strengthen America’s leadership in artificial intelligence, expand reliable energy generation, and strengthen our national security,” said NNSA Administrator Brandon Williams. “By working with the private sector, we can move faster, apply innovative technologies, and make productive use of federal land while maintaining our commitment to mission delivery.”

Consistent with the Trump Administration’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, the proposed project pairs new AI infrastructure with dedicated on-site energy generation, helping ensure the project’s electricity needs are met without shifting costs to existing utility customers. The project includes a 1-gigawatt data center and approximately 2-gigawatts of on-site energy generation consisting of natural gas bridging to nuclear energy.

Through the proposed project, NNSA and Amentum intend to:

• Rapidly construct a data center supported by sufficient on-site power generation while increasing the availability of power to the grid.
• Accelerate the development of AI and energy infrastructure.
• Use public-private partnerships to advance innovative technologies and strategies.

In April 2025, DOE identified 16 federal sites that could support the construction of AI data centers and associated energy infrastructure. The Savannah River Site and three other locations were selected to move forward with efforts to invite private-sector development. Selection for negotiations does not constitute a final lease award. Any agreement will be subject to successful negotiations and all applicable permitting requirements, safety and security evaluations, and other federal approvals.

Additional information about the project and lease negotiations will be released through the appropriate channels as it becomes available.