WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a sweeping series of initiatives last week aimed at advancing artificial intelligence supercomputing, strengthening America’s energy infrastructure, and revitalizing the nation’s coal industry — moves that officials say mark a new era of “Gold Standard Science” and energy dominance under President Trump’s leadership.
AI Supercomputers to Power the Next Era of U.S. Innovation
On October 27, the DOE revealed plans for two new AMD-powered AI supercomputers — Lux and Discovery — at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The systems will expand U.S. capabilities in scientific computing, defense research, and next-generation energy innovation.
The Lux AI cluster, arriving in early 2026, will use AMD Instinct MI355X GPUs and EPYC CPUs to accelerate breakthroughs in nuclear fusion, quantum computing, and grid modernization. Meanwhile, Discovery — a record-setting HPE Cray system powered by next-generation AMD chips — will debut in 2028, promising performance that surpasses even Frontier, the world’s current second-largest supercomputer.
“Winning the AI race requires new and creative partnerships that bring together the brightest minds in science and industry,” said Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “With Lux and Discovery, America is proving we can build faster, lead stronger, and innovate smarter than anyone in the world.”
The DOE’s new public-private partnership model aims to cut the time required to deploy supercomputers from years to months by sharing costs and infrastructure with private firms.
NVIDIA, Oracle Join DOE for Nation’s Largest AI System
Just a day later, the DOE announced another groundbreaking alliance with NVIDIA and Oracle to build Solstice — the largest AI supercomputer in the Energy Department’s network — alongside a smaller system called Equinox, both housed at Argonne National Laboratory.
The Solstice system will feature 100,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, while Equinox will include 10,000, each designed to power scientific research from energy security to advanced materials discovery. Oracle will also provide immediate AI resources to DOE researchers, marking what officials called a “new commonsense model” for high-speed collaboration.
“AI is the most powerful technology of our time, and science is its greatest frontier,” said NVIDIA founder Jensen Huang. “Together, we’re building an AI factory that will serve as America’s engine for discovery.”
Trump Administration Invests $100 Million to Modernize Coal Plants
Capping off the week, the DOE issued a $100 million Notice of Funding Opportunity to refurbish and modernize the nation’s aging coal power plants — part of President Trump’s broader effort to restore energy independence and end what officials call the “war on coal.”
“For years, the Biden and Obama administrations relentlessly targeted America’s coal workers,” said Wright. “President Trump is restoring common sense energy policies that put Americans first.”
The initiative will fund projects focused on improving power plant efficiency, enabling dual fuel capabilities between coal and natural gas, and developing advanced wastewater recovery systems. Managed by DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory, applications are due January 7, 2026.
From billion-dollar AI supercomputers to revitalized coal infrastructure, this week’s announcements reinforce the administration’s vision of American energy and technological supremacy built on speed, innovation, and self-reliance.
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