While the Columbia County government and taxpayers continue to argue over the pros and cons of building a data center in Appling—very quietly, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has local officials anticipating new missions at the Savannah River Site (SRS).
These missions involve AI, a Data Center, and potentially big contracts for CSRA companies.
By The Numbers
The request is on behalf of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). SRS is one of four selected for AI (artificial intelligence) infrastructure and generation projects. There are 10 tracts, totaling 3,103 acres at SRS, available for the projects, according to NNSA.
Robbie Bennett, President and CEO of the SRS Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO), told ABD that having the opportunity to house a data center at the site can open the door to innovative ways to power such facilities.
“So, that could be small modular reactors (SMR), that could be natural gas plants, that could be any opportunity that makes sense and meets the demand of that AI data center. Part of the reason this is so exciting is that DOE sites have the ability to move the nuclear permitting a little bit faster, not circumventing any processes, but the regulations and rules are slightly different on a government property, versus a new greenfield development outside of a government facility.”
Economic Developers On Board
Data centers are known for using considerable amounts of energy to power their functions. Earlier this year, Cal Wray, President of the Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA), and Austin Stacy, Executive Director of the Development Authority of Burke County (DABC), both pointed to SMRs as a possible solution.
“Right now, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is looking at permitting three SMRs for high-energy users,” Stacy told ABD in May. “I believe those are going to be out west somewhere. But the conversation has started. The regulation has started to be looked at. Is it in the near future? Probably not, but we need it yesterday.”
“Why this matters to me, why I’m excited on this is if we can build these facilities at Savannah River and you have the other three locations as well, what that means is we’re able to prove the business model and case for new nuclear and get a not only a large scale data center built that has significant impact on the region and local community from tax revenue and jobs, but we’re able to show the business model that nuclear can come back and can serve a major role to powering our long term energy needs,” said Bennett.
Important Next Steps for CSRA Businesses
The Request for Proposals (RFP) has been posted on the U.S. General Services Administration website. It is seeking entities that want to enter a long-term lease for the land at SRS.
It reads, in part:
“The Lease Agreement with the Government is for the purposes of designing, financing, permitting, developing, constructing, installing, owning, maintaining, operating, and decommissioning AI data center and energy generation infrastructure (the “Project”) including, but not limited to: data center facilities with specialized Information Technology (IT) equipment; associated cooling facilities; energy supply infrastructure; transmission and storage infrastructure.”
Making businesses in the metro Augusta/Aiken region aware of RFPs is part of what Terra Carroll does as President and CEO of the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce.
“I go through our membership database, and I find the businesses who fit the categories of what the RFP is asking for,” she explained. “I share the RFP request directly with those businesses to say, ‘Here’s an opportunity for you to bid. If you’re interested, please follow up. If you need assistance, let us know.’ That’s an opportunity for the Chamber to better engage with our small businesses and create those partnerships.”
Developers Needed
Bennett said SRSCRO has the opportunity to partner with developers at the site and would like to do so with whoever is selected for the new projects to ensure there is a benefit to the surrounding communities.
“I’d hate to see this project, this opportunity, come in and not have the true economic impact that it could have. And as a result, I think that site leadership, headquarters leadership, are all paying attention to that conversation,” he said. “Our goal is to make sure that partners and developers understand what the opportunity is, and if they have questions, help support that process.”
The selection of SRS is a stark change from the site’s potential closure in the early 1990s. If successful, this project will be the latest in a series of new missions brought to SRS, including repurposing the failed Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication facility. It is being converted to the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF), a project that has created thousands of jobs on site.
“This is an exciting time for Savannah River,” said Bennett. “It’s about showing the community and region that there are a lot of opportunities for growth and expansion here. And it also creates a story, in my opinion, of not only do we lead the country and national security in the region between Fort Gordon, but also the Savannah River Site within NNSA, and what they do on a national security standpoint and leading forward when it comes to energy independence and AI capabilities.”
Deadline to Apply
RFPs must be submitted by 5 p.m. on December 5, 2025. NNSA will sponsor a virtual industry day event to learn more about the solicitation process. Registration is required. Those interested should email NNSA_AI_Infrastructure@srs.gov for more information.
Additional information on the RFP can be found here.
