Data, data, data. We are entering a new era of work, where data is the new currency, and we have the technologies readily available to leverage this data—but do we have the infrastructure? From energy to data centers, infrastructure across the country needs to be finetuned in order to meet the needs of tomorrow’s data-driven world.
Consider this: Electricity demand is projected to grow 15% to 20% by 2030, driven by the rapid expansion of data centers, electrification needs, and more growth. Much of that demand is being met by newly available renewable power sources.
Many construction professionals recognize this and they are delivering. Let’s consider the example of Clayco. In March, the company announced the launch of a Power and Energy business unit. Initially, the unit will focus on utility-scale solar and energy storage projects.
The company says it will leverage advanced modeling, prefabrication, and field-tested construction expertise to deliver projects. As one example, Clayco is currently under contract and in the design phase for a solar and battery storage project in Illinois, scheduled to mobilize in 2026.
The company’s efforts in this area go deeper. The organization is participating in a multidisciplinary consortium led by energy company Deep Atomic, which is submitting to the U.S. DOE (Dept. of Energy) to develop next-generation nuclear-powered AI (artificial intelligence) data center and energy infrastructure campuses.
The consortium brings together organizations with expertise spanning advanced nuclear technology, energy systems, cost and risk modeling, regulatory strategy, and large-scale computing. Deep Atomic is advancing an integrated energy approach that pairs advanced nuclear energy with AI data center infrastructure to support reliable, low-carbon power for next-generation computing.
The proposal includes a proposed facility at the Idaho National Laboratory. Clayco is supporting the data center scope by providing early-stage delivery planning, constructability analysis, and integrated design-build expertise to inform the DOE submission process. Clayco will also advise the consortium on infrastructure integration and aligning design and construction approaches with the operational requirements of high-density AI workloads.
As data continues to reshape how industries operate, the systems that power, store, and process that information must evolve just as quickly. From renewable energy projects to next-generation nuclear-powered data centers, companies are demonstrating how construction, energy, and technology are converging to build the infrastructure required for a data-driven future.
The challenge ahead is ensuring the nation has the resilient, scalable energy and facility infrastructure needed to support it. Meeting that challenge will require innovation, collaboration, and a willingness across the construction and energy sectors to rethink how tomorrow’s infrastructure is designed and delivered.
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