The US Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) inviting states to express interest in hosting Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses that could be colocated with a data center.

The DOE said that the proposed campuses could support activities across the full nuclear fuel lifecycle, including fuel fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing used nuclear fuel, and disposition of waste. It went on to claim that, depending on state priorities and regional capabilities, the sites could also “host advanced reactor deployment, power generation, advanced manufacturing, and co-located data centers.”

“Unleashing the next American nuclear renaissance will drive innovation, fuel economic growth, and create good-paying American jobs while delivering the affordable, reliable, and secure energy America needs to power its future,” said US Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses give us the opportunity to work directly with states on regional priorities that support President Trump’s vision to revitalize America’s nuclear base.”

The RFI will invite states to provide clear statements of interest and constructive feedback on the structure of the Innovation Campuses. The DOE said that submissions should outline state priorities, including workforce development, infrastructure investment, economic diversification, or technology leadership, as well as describe the scope of activities the state envisions hosting.

States will also be encouraged to identify the funding structures, risk-sharing approaches, incentives, and federal partnerships required to successfully establish and sustain a full-cycle innovation campus.

Responses to the RFI must be submitted no later than April 1, 2026, with interested parties able to learn more about the process here.

The DOE has announced several initiatives over the past 12 months to support nuclear development, in part to meet surging demand from the data center market.

In August, the DOE selected 11 advanced nuclear reactor projects to join its Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program. As part of the program, the DOE will support the projects to construct, operate, and achieve criticality of at least three test reactors using the DOE authorization process by July 4, 2026. Several of the companies, namely Deep Fission, Last Energy, Oklo, and Radiant, have signed future offtake deals with data center companies.

DCD did a deep dive into the advanced nuclear sector in our latest magazine. Available for free here.