DOE AI data center sites on the Oak Ridge Reservation

The U.S. Department of Energy wants private companies to build AI data centers and their own power plants on federal land in Oak Ridge. Two sites are offered: the old K-25 area (ETTP) and land next to Oak Ridge National Laboratory. No company has been publicly chosen yet.

✔ ConfirmedSourceLast checked: Oct 7, 2026

Where things stand: DOE asked companies for proposals (due Dec. 1, 2025). We found no public announcement of a winning company yet.

🕒 Latest update (Sept 30, 2025): DOE asked companies for proposals to lease land at ETTP and next to ORNL for AI data centers; proposals were due Dec. 1, 2025.

What we know

📍 WhereTwo sites: the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) and land next to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Roane County
🏢 CompanyU.S. Department of Energy (land owner); developer not yet chosen
🔌 Where the power comes fromDOE wants the developer to bring new power, such as nuclear or geothermal, plus batteries.

❓ Still unanswered

Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?

Which company did DOE pick for the Oak Ridge AI data center sites? 🙋 I'll find out
How many acres and megawatts will be used? 🙋 I'll find out

What happened so far

July 24, 2025
DOE picked the Oak Ridge Reservation as one of four federal sites for AI data centers and new power plants.
Sept 30, 2025
DOE asked companies for proposals to lease land at ETTP and next to ORNL for AI data centers; proposals were due Dec. 1, 2025.

Local votes and rules

⏸️ Pause on new data centers

Roane County Commission asked its planning commission to recommend a pause on data centers, crypto mines and large battery storage projects. News reports differ on the length (180 days or two years). At a Sept. 15, 2026 meeting the county attorney said he would write the final resolution once the planning commission's corrected minutes are filed; the parts on bitcoin mines and battery storage were still pending.

July 2026

🛰️ See it from above

An aerial photo of the area.

We only know the town, so this shows the town center, not the exact site. Photos: USGS The National Map.

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Where this comes from

U.S. Energy Department seeks proposals for AI data centers, energy projects at Oak Ridge · U.S. Department of Energy · Sept 30, 2025
Oak Ridge Reservation in Roane County selected for national AI and energy infrastructure initiative · Roane County Government · July 24, 2025

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