A coalition of energy, infrastructure, and utility companies announced a strategic partnership to develop a data center campus at the US Department of Energy’s Paducah Site in Western Kentucky. The $100 billion privately funded project repurposes land at the former enrichment site into a hub for innovation and energy generation.
Once fully constructed in 2032, the campus will support up to 1.8 gigawatts of utility capacity and over 1.2 gigawatts of compute capacity, backed by up to 4.6 gigawatts of dedicated generation resources paid for and built specifically for the project. The partnership coalition includes Brookfield, NextEra Energy, Big Rivers Electric Power Corporation, Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative, and Paducah Power System.
Following a Request for Offers in November 2025, DOE selected Brookfield to lease land and develop and operate the data center campus, while NextEra Energy will build and own the dedicated generation resources to power it, including up to 2 gigawatts of natural gas and up to 2.6 gigawatts of battery energy storage systems. Big Rivers Electric Power Corporation will provide wholesale electric service, Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative will deliver retail service, and Paducah Power System will serve as a community supporter. The power service agreement will include additional oversight and approval from the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
The development is expected to create approximately 8,000 construction jobs and 600 full-time operations jobs. The Paducah Site is already equipped with transmission capacity, water infrastructure, fiber connectivity, roads, and land ready to support a project of this magnitude, infrastructure that significantly accelerates timelines to begin work on the development.
KEY QUOTES:
“This new campus helps secure our nation’s position as a global leader in innovation. It’s difficult to overestimate the importance of this project. The planning and investment by NextEra Energy and Brookfield provides a crucial roadmap for future projects in the United States by revealing the ability to build world leading infrastructure without passing costs on to surrounding communities.”
Chris Wright, US Energy Secretary
“We are intently focused on finding ways to put federal land back to use for American taxpayers. That commitment is at the heart of our office’s American Energy Hubs initiative. Our employees are working with urgency to transform legacy sites that played a key role in the prosperity and success of our nation, like Paducah, into hubs for energy and innovation that keep our nation secure and create new jobs and economic opportunities for the region.”
Tim Walsh, DOE Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management
“Demand for critical infrastructure that accelerates innovation in the U.S. and supports the economy will need to be met with capital, development capabilities, and additional power generation that benefits local communities. The Department of Energy Paducah Site will be the seed of our plan to invest $100 billion in AI infrastructure.”
Bruce Flatt, CEO, Brookfield
“This project is a proof point for how AI infrastructure should be built in America. The data center will bring its own power, pay for its own power infrastructure and create good-paying jobs for local workers, and in doing so, it will make the local communities stronger. New jobs, new energy resources, a more reliable grid and not a dollar of added cost on an existing customer’s electric bill.”
John Ketchum, Chairman, President and CEO, NextEra Energy
“Our members count on us to protect them from risk while planning boldly for the future. We believe this project will provide significant benefits to our members without compromising the affordability or reliability of their electricity.”
Don Gulley, President and CEO, Big Rivers Electric Corporation
“As a member-owned cooperative, our priority is always the people and communities we serve. Projects like this have the potential to bring meaningful economic development to our region while safeguarding the electricity our members depend on every day.”
Greg Grissom, President and CEO, Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative
“For generations, the Paducah Site has played a critical role in our nation’s energy and national security mission. Today, our same site is helping power what many consider the next great national challenge: the race for advanced computing and artificial intelligence.”
Cory Hicks, CEO, Paducah Power System
