Washington D.C. – The Trump administration is reportedly preparing a series of executive orders aimed at bolstering the nation’s artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. This move comes amid increasing technological competition, particularly with China, and escalating demands on the power grid due to the rapid expansion of AI applications.
Sources within the administration indicate that the plan encompasses measures to expedite the connection of new power generation projects to the national grid. It also includes provisions for allocating federal land for the construction of large-scale data centers, crucial for AI development. Furthermore, the administration is reportedly developing a comprehensive national AI strategy, coupled with public outreach initiatives to educate citizens about its implications.
The surge in AI adoption is placing unprecedented strain on the US electrical grid. The energy demands of training advanced AI models are substantial, representing the first major growth in electricity consumption in the United States in decades. Industry analysts predict a significant increase in electricity demand. Grid Strategies forecasts that electricity demand will grow five times faster from 2024 to 2029 than it did in 2022. Deloitte projects that AI data center electricity consumption will increase more than 30-fold by 2035.
The Trump administration is exploring options to prioritize near-completion power generation projects in existing queues, aiming to accelerate their grid connection. The administration is also considering allocating land under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense or the Department of the Interior to data center developers, to overcome site availability challenges. These steps are a direct response to the obstacles facing the US electricity sector. New energy projects often require years of studies and approvals, while existing transmission networks are under increasing pressure.
The forthcoming executive orders represent a significant effort to address the infrastructure challenges posed by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and solidify the United States’ position in the global AI landscape.
