DOE opens the door to AI data centers and energy projects at the Idaho National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Reservation, and the Savannah River Site: Key RFA takeaways from industry day and the RFPs

On September 8, 2025, DOE issued a Request for Applications (RFA) seeking proposals from industry teams to lease up to 100,000 acres within INL for the siting and rapid deployment of these projects. The RFA is designed to attract well-capitalized developers capable of bringing together data center operators, energy providers, and infrastructure partners to deliver secure, large-scale AI computing facilities supported by reliable, preferably clean, power.

DOE held a widely attended industry day on September 26, 2025, to further explain the RFA, address developer questions, and provide clarity on project requirements, site considerations, and expectations.

This INL RFA is the first of several anticipated solicitations at DOE sites. Since industry day, DOE has issued additional Requests for Proposals (RFP) for AI data center projects at the Savannah River Site (through the NNSA) and the Oak Ridge Reservation. An additional RFP is expected soon for the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant.

Key points from DOE’s industry day include:

• DOE is making ~100,000 acres of its 890-square-mile INL available and is prioritizing rapidly deployable projects.
• While DOE is offering land, developers must assemble fully resourced teams—including energy partners (for islanded systems) or utilities (for grid-connected systems), and networking providers—to ensure project success.
• DOE expressed a strong interest in pairing nuclear and geothermal energy with AI data centers but emphasized it remains open to other technologies.

About the RFA

The INL RFA stems directly from the President’s May 23, 2025 Executive Orders on nuclear energy, AI, and critical technologies, which instructed DOE to leverage federal lands to accelerate deployment of secure AI infrastructure paired with firm, clean energy sources. INL was identified as the first site for implementation, with additional solicitations for Oak Ridge and Savannah River following and one for Paducah still to come.

DOE envisions a three-phase program in the RFA:

1. Initial development – including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review and project finance.
2. Construction – building the data centers and associated energy assets.
3. Operations – long-term deployment and integration.

Applications for the INL RFA are due November 7, 2025, with DOE expected to select multiple projects by mid-December 2025. Proposals for the Oak Ridge and Savannah River RFPs are due December 1 and 5, respectively.

DOE indicated it will consider a range of configurations, including (i) concurrent development of data centers and energy supply, (ii) phased projects where data centers are built first and energy follows, and (iii) innovative standalone energy projects designed to serve future AI load.

What you need to know from industry day

• DOE’s RFAs aligns with federal priorities to bolster AI infrastructure and energy resilience in support of national security and competitiveness.
• DOE expects applicants to propose creative system configurations (e.g., collocated, distributed, or phased). No minimum size is required.
• Rapid deployment and operational reality are top priorities. DOE expects applicants to demonstrate properly resourced and mature consortia, financing, and integration plans to rapidly complete construction.
• DOE highlighted use of NEPA streamlining tools. For more, see here. DOE indicated in both the INL RFA and during industry day that it would apply categorical exclusions--and their short review timelines--liberally to selected projects.
• DOE intends to negotiate long-term lease agreements with the selected applicants, which will detail the parties’ rights and responsibilities. DOE historically has encouraged its lessees working on the INL to enter into separate services contracts with the INL management and operations contractor.

Challenges and considerations

• Electricity. DOE will not provide access to its internal electricity distribution networks. Developers must propose islanded systems with energy partners or utility interconnections.
• Water. DOE will not make its federal reserve water rights available. Applicants must acquire sufficient Idaho water rights in the open market to guarantee operations.
• Networking. DOE is not providing fiber connection. Applicants must secure partners and plan around line constraints.
• Energy preferences. DOE officials highlighted nuclear and geothermal as preferred technologies but did not rule out other sources. DOE is open to phased approaches that bring energy assets online incrementally.

Energy preferences. DOE officials highlight nuclear and geothermal as preferred technologies but did not rule out other sources. DOE is open to phased approaches that bring energy assets online incrementally.

How we can help

DOE’s INL RFA—as well as those RFPs following—represents a highly competitive opportunity that will demand well-structured partnerships, technically robust proposals, and clear demonstration of financing and execution capacity. Our team combines deep experience in DOE contracting and federal leasing, energy project development, AI/data center infrastructure, and regulatory compliance—with unique capabilities in nuclear and geothermal projects, deployment of first-of-a-kind (FOAK) technologies, and extensive power-sector experience that align directly with DOE’s stated priorities. We can assist you in:

• Structuring teaming arrangements and consortia – Advising on joint ventures, public-private partnerships, and subcontracting strategies that align with DOE’s expectations for well-resourced applicant teams. We ensure that agreements appropriately allocate risk, protect intellectual property, and provide flexibility across project phases—critical for FOAK deployments.
• Developing innovative project designs – Supporting the integration of advanced energy systems with AI data centers, including nuclear and geothermal solutions where we bring unmatched market-leading expertise. Our work on FOAK nuclear reactor projects, novel geothermal deployments, and hybrid energy systems gives us practical insight into siting, permitting, and federal incentive structures, while leveraging our deep bench in traditional power-sector development.
• Engaging with DOE on leases and compliance – Navigating the DOE leasing process, federal contracting requirements, and NEPA reviews. We advise on negotiating long-term lease agreements, structuring DOE-related contracts, coordinating with INL’s management and operations contractor, and ensuring compliance with DOE program requirements—all areas where our DOE contracting experience provides a significant advantage.
• Securing financing and aligning with investors – Counseling on project finance structures that meet DOE’s rapid deployment objectives, including federal incentives, DOE loan guarantees, private equity, and debt arrangements. Our power-sector financing work spans utility-scale renewables, nuclear, and thermal generation projects, giving us a broad base of precedents to draw from.
• Generator interconnection strategy and implementation – Providing strategic guidance to projects that interconnect to the grid, both for FERC-jurisdictional transmission interconnections and state-jurisdictional distribution interconnections.
• Drafting and Negotiating Power Supply Agreements – Assisting clients secure sufficient reliable power supply both from the grid as well as on-site microgrid providers.
• Regulatory and policy advocacy – Supporting engagement with DOE, NRC, FERC, state utility commissions, and other regulators. We also monitor the forthcoming RFA at Paducah and potential related opportunities, ensuring clients can leverage first-mover advantages and shape evolving policy frameworks.

With our multidisciplinary approach—and strong capabilities in DOE contracting, nuclear and geothermal development, FOAK project deployment, and the broader power sector—we are uniquely positioned to help applicant teams design, finance, and deliver projects that meet DOE’s objectives. For more information—or to discuss how best to position your proposal—please contact us. We are here to help you succeed.

Authored by Stewart Forbes, Amy Roma, Chip Cannon, and Cameron Hughes.