The Trump Administration Considers Executive Orders to Expand AI Infrastructure
The Trump administration is reportedly considering a series of executive orders aimed at expanding the infrastructure necessary to support the growth of artificial intelligence, according to a report by Reuters on Friday.
Proposed Actions to Support AI Growth
The proposed actions, though not yet confirmed by the White House, include measures to ease access to the power grid, streamline permitting processes, and open federal land for the construction of large-scale data centers. These steps are seen as crucial to supporting the advancement of AI technology in the United States.
One proposal would prioritize existing energy projects for faster grid connection, while another would allow the use of land managed by the Department of the Interior for AI infrastructure development, potentially bypassing traditional zoning and permitting hurdles.
The Department of the Interior has not provided any comments on these reported proposals.
U.S. Response to Chinese Competition
These potential executive orders come as the U.S. aims to accelerate AI infrastructure development in response to increasing competition from China. The demand for energy to power AI data centers is on the rise, prompting the need for expanded infrastructure.
In January, President Trump signed an executive order to remove barriers to American leadership in artificial intelligence, reversing previous policies that sought to restrict AI expansion. The Stargate initiative, backed by companies like Oracle, SoftBank, and OpenAI, is set to invest $500 billion in AI infrastructure development, creating over 100,000 American jobs in the process.
Growth in AI Data Center Power Demand
According to a report by Deloitte, the power demand from AI data centers is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. By 2035, this demand could grow more than thirtyfold, reaching 123 gigawatts. To put this into perspective, 4 gigawatts could power approximately 3.25 million homes annually.
Major tech companies like Amazon and xAI are expanding their AI infrastructure investments across the country. Amazon is investing billions in data centers in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, while xAI is building a large supercomputer facility in Memphis, Tennessee. However, legal challenges have arisen, with the NAACP threatening to sue xAI over alleged Clean Air Act violations related to its AI data center.
The White House has not provided any comments on these reported executive order proposals.