A private data center and power plant could be built on federal land near Boulder, as the U.S. government eyes metro Denver in a national push to supercharge AI infrastructure. The once-coastal tech boom is moving inland. And Colorado — already home to dozens of data centers — could be key to the country's AI ambitions. The Biden-era plan, now being carried forward by the Trump administration, would place AI-focused data centers at 16 federal sites — including on National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) land near Boulder. The Department of Energy is seeking input from private developers and the public, with the goal of bringing facilities online by the end of 2027. 'Private data center companies, that's where the capital is, that's where the investment is,' Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a former Denver energy company executive, said at a press conference last week at NREL, per the Colorado Sun. 'We want to win this AI race — or at least stay in the lead,' he said. The world's densest concentration of data centers is in Northern Virginia's 'Data Center Alley.' Just five states — California, Texas, Florida, New York and Georgia — employ 40% of all U.S. data center workers, U.S. Census Bureau figures show.

Trump plans AI data center on NREL land near Boulder

The U.S. government is planning to build private data centers and power plants on federal land near Boulder, Colorado, as part of a national push to enhance AI infrastructure. The initiative, led by the Department of Energy, aims to place AI-focused data centers at 16 federal sites, including on National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) land. This move is part of a broader strategy to bolster the country's AI capabilities, with the goal of bringing facilities online by the end of 2027. The initiative is being supported by private developers and the public, with the Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasizing the importance of capital investment and staying competitive in the AI race.