Nextgov is reporting that the DOE is searching for alternative ways to pay for its share of the federal data center consolidation project. The goal is to close 1,000 federal data centers by 2015, an effort which will reportedly save $5 billion.

According to Nextgov, consolidation reports from the agencies were due on October 7, 2011. The DOE’s report can be accessed at http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/DOE_Data_Center_Optimization_Plan_PublicRelease_093011_0.pdf