Trump Plans Executive Orders to Power AI Growth in Race With China

• Trump administration is preparing executive actions to boost energy supply for AI growth.
• AI expansion needs a significant increase in energy capacity amid rising demand.
• Proposals include easing power project connections and streamlining data center permits.
• Upcoming AI Action Plan is set for release by July 23 with public events planned.
• Trump emphasizes the urgency to lead in the global AI race against China.

Trump’s Administration Readies Executive Actions on Energy Supply

The Trump administration is moving full steam ahead with plans for a series of executive actions geared towards enhancing energy supply, which is essential for powering the U.S. expansion in artificial intelligence. According to four sources who wished to remain anonymous, these initiatives come as the U.S. finds itself deeply ensconced in a technological race with China. Competition is fierce, with both nations seeking to carve out an economic and military advantage, and that’s where the need for increased energy capability comes into play. AI developments take a staggering amount of data processing capacity, straining the existing power supplies and utilities across multiple states.

Proposed Measures to Streamline Energy Supply and AI

Among the proposed measures under consideration are the simplifications for power-generating projects to more easily connect to the national grid. There’s also talk of utilizing federal land for building essential data centers that would support the booming AI sector. And let’s not overlook the upcoming AI action plan, with the administration gearing up for public unveilings to garner attention. This is all amid a backdrop where electricity demand for training large-scale AI models is skyrocketing, so much that U.S. power demand is expected to surge at a rate five times faster than previous predictions from 2022. To illustrate, according to Grid Strategies, AI data center power needs could explode more than thirtyfold by 2035.

Addressing Siting Challenges for Data Centers

Building and linking new electricity generation to the grid hasn’t been a walk in the park, as developers face extensive environmental impact studies that often drag on for years. Current transmission systems are overwhelmed, making it tough to keep up with both power generation needs and the rapid expansion of AI. One interesting idea the administration might take up is promoting fully developed power projects to the top of connection waiting lists. That’s not all—siting data centers is fraught with challenges too, due to their space and resource demands, zoning issues, or even public opposition. Executive orders could help by offering access to land managed by the Defense and Interior Departments, alongside a proposed Clean Water Act permit intended to simplify the often complicated permitting process for data centers.

Focus on Job Creation and National Commitment to AI

Earlier this year, Trump brought together senior tech executives at the White House to highlight the Stargate Project, a major initiative backed by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle to create data centers and generate some 100,000 new jobs in the U.S. This aligns with Trump’s clear focus on outperforming China in the AI arena. He even declared a national energy emergency on his first day in office, aiming to dismantle regulatory barriers that hamper oil and gas exploration, coal mining, and even nuclear power plant construction to boost energy output. The AI Action Plan is expected to elevate America to the forefront of the global AI scene, with a report set for release by July 23. Interestingly, there’s even chatter about declaring July 23 as “AI Action Day” to underline commitment to this rapidly evolving industry. Meanwhile, Trump is slated to address an AI and energy event in Pennsylvania and recently, Amazon revealed its intent to invest $20 billion in data centers in two counties within the same state.

The administration’s push for executive actions highlights the urgency to boost energy supply to support the soaring demands of artificial intelligence, all while navigating regulatory challenges. This effort comes amid an intensifying competition with China, underscoring the need for strategic planning to secure an economic edge. With upcoming events and the AI Action Plan in the works, the administration is clearly prioritizing AI-related energy solutions and job creation—demonstrating a concerted commitment to leading the global AI market.