Editor's Note: This article was written for the Kansas Department of Commerce, which approved and paid for this post.

Kansas is clearing constraints and building for the data center boom. The state has established a new data center incentive program, is building energy supply ahead of demand, and is aligning workforce efforts so it can be a preferred partner for data center projects — providing the AI revolution a fitting home in the heartland.

Thanks to a comprehensive, “all-of-the-above” approach to energy supply, Kansas has power available today — with much more on the way.

Kansas is channeling its long history as a renewable energy leader to place it at the forefront of innovation when it comes to welcoming and developing new energy sources — including nuclear. Already home to a 1,250 MW nuclear power plant, the state also is a proving ground for two promising and emerging forms of nuclear energy.

In 2025, TerraPower, a nuclear innovation company, announced a memorandum of understanding with Kansas to explore siting their flagship technology, the Natrium reactor and energy storage system. The company’s 345 MW sodium-cooled fast reactor is equipped to boost output to 500 MW of power when demand peaks.

TerraPower is working directly with regional energy provider Evergy to evaluate feasibility and explore potential sites in Kansas. While the technology’s potential still is being realized, momentum has been significant, with Meta agreeing to help fund eight U.S. reactor and storage systems coming online as early as 2032.

In the meantime, another form of nuclear energy already is being built in Kansas.

At the end of 2025, Deep Fission broke ground on the world’s first mile-deep nuclear reactor in Parsons. Part of a U.S. Department of Energy’s pilot program, it will provide power to the Great Plains Industrial Park.

Deep Fission’s Small Modular Reactors make their technology ideal for behind-the-meter nuclear power generation that could be stored in batteries at a synthetic geothermal campus, and then supplied directly to high-demand, on-site energy users.

Whether it’s obtaining quick and direct permitting service from energy providers to get plugged into the grid right away, or the prospect of new energy sources, Kansas is all-in on addressing data center clients’ energy needs.

Kansas educational institutions are ready workforce development partners for the data center and cloud computing industry. With Computer Support Specialist Certificates to more advanced networking and cybersecurity degree and certificate programs, our education institutions also focus on training electrical and IT maintenance technicians.

Power, permitting, people and places with ready infrastructure are driving Kansas competitiveness for future data center projects. Policy provides the cherry on top. Enacted in 2025, the Kansas Data Center Sales Tax Exemption Program establishes a 20-year state and local sales tax exemption designed to attract large-scale (at least $250 million), permanent data center developments to the state.

Kansas truly is the ideal state for data center development in 2026 and beyond.

Ready to get plugged in? Learn more about Kansas, the State of Unexpected, at kansascommerce.gov.