The U.S. Department of Energy is embarking on an ambitious plan to convert the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky into a $100 billion artificial intelligence data center, backed by Brookfield Asset Management. This initiative, paralleling a similar project in Ohio, aims to bolster U.S. AI capabilities amid global competition, while also generating thousands of jobs and investment in the region. However, local community and environmental advocates are expressing concerns about the site’s contaminated past and its proximity to vital drinking water sources, urging that thorough environmental safeguards be maintained as cleanup efforts continue. Completion of the center and an accompanying power plant is projected for 2031.