Feds look to build massive data center at Savannah River Site

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - The federal government is planning a massive artificial intelligence data center at the Savannah River Site.

The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration has picked engineering firm Amentum to begin negotiating a lease.

The proposal calls for a 1-gigawatt data center supported by about 2 gigawatts of on-site power generation, starting with natural gas and later shifting to nuclear energy.

Federal officials say tying the facility to its own power source is meant to keep the project from driving up electric bills for existing utility customers.

NNSA Administrator Brandon Williams said the project is intended to boost U.S. leadership in AI, expand reliable energy production and support national security, while making “productive use of federal land” through a public‑private partnership.

The effort is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to use federal property for energy-intensive AI infrastructure and to speed up permitting for data centers and advanced nuclear projects.

SRS − a massive complex tied to the nation’s nuclear defense − is one of four federal sites the Department of Energy cleared last year to move ahead with private-sector proposals for AI data centers and associated energy projects.

Being selected for negotiations does not guarantee a final deal.

Any lease will depend on successful talks, environmental and safety reviews, security evaluations, permits and other federal approvals.

Energy officials say more details on the project and the lease talks will be released as they become available.