FILE - The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant is seen near Paducah, Ky., Nov. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Stephen Lance Dennee)
FILE - The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant is seen near Paducah, Ky., Nov. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Stephen Lance Dennee)
Stephen Lance DenneeThe U.S. Department of Energy is harnessing the artificial intelligence boom in its bid to convert another Cold War-era uranium enrichment site. It says it says a $100 billion data center complex will include its own new natural gas and battery storage power plant in Kentucky. Investment firm Brookfield Asset Management was selected by the department to develop and operate the data center project at the government-owned Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The department announced a similar project at its Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Ohio. Both are undergoing extensive cleanup after decades of fueling the nation’s nuclear weapons and power plants. Florida-based NextEra Energy will build and own the power plant.