In a decisive move to secure America’s lead in artificial intelligence (AI), U.S President Donald Trump has signed an executive order on Friday establishing the National Energy Dominance Council.
This newly formed body will focus on ramping up the nation’s electricity supply to meet the soaring energy demands of AI technology, ensuring the U.S. stays ahead in its intensifying AI competition with China.
“We’re going to be energy dominant like nobody else,” Trump declared while signing the order. “And this doesn’t even begin to cover all the electricity we’re going to produce for AI facilities. They’ll need at least twice the power we have right now.”
Trump’s Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that AI development is now a critical national priority. “The U.S. is in an AI arms race with China. The only way we win is with more electricity,” he stated.
The National Energy Dominance Council will coordinate policies across federal agencies, streamline permitting processes, and accelerate energy production and distribution.
This aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to “drill, baby, drill”, pushing for increased domestic oil and gas production while rolling back concerns about carbon emissions and climate change regulations.
The rise of AI has placed an unprecedented strain on the nation’s power grid. Data centers, which fuel AI models, already consume vast amounts of electricity.
According to industry estimates, by 2028, AI training alone could require five gigawatts of power, equivalent to the energy needed to supply around 5 million homes.
America’s energy supply has been struggling due to chronic underinvestment and the gradual shutdown of aging nuclear plants. Tech industry leaders have been pressing the administration to prioritize energy infrastructure to support AI innovation.
With this new initiative, Trump’s administration aims to address these concerns while countering potential price surges from trade wars that could drive up energy costs.
AFP