Biden executive order to facilitate AI data center power
The order directs the departments of Defense and Energy to lease federal land in places where the private sector can “build frontier AI infrastructure at speed and scale … in a way that enhances economic competitiveness, national security, AI safety, and clean energy,” according to a White House news release. The outgoing president wants to gigawatt-scale AI data centers and power facilities built quickly and tied into transmission networks—but power developers will be required to offset all of the electricity needs of the data centers with clean energy generation.
Biden said in the order that he wants the U.S. to remain the global leader in AI technology.
“Cutting-edge AI will have profound implications for national security and enormous potential to improve Americans’ lives if harnessed responsibly, from helping cure disease to keeping communities safe by mitigating the effects of climate change. However, we cannot take our lead for granted,” Biden said in the order.
“We will not let America be out-build when it comes to the technology that will define the future, nor should we sacrifice critical environmental standards and our shared efforts to protect clean air and water,” the order states. “These efforts are designed to accelerate the clean energy transition in a way that is responsible and respectful to local communities, and in a way that does not impose any new costs on American families.”
Rising demand: A 2024 study from the Electric Power Research Institute projects that data centers could consume up to 9 percent of U.S. electricity generation by 2030—more than double the amount currently used. This is due, in large part, to the fact that AI queries require about 10 times the electricity of traditional internet searches, plus the generation of original music, photos, and videos through AI require even more energy.
The White House wants to move quickly, expecting that within three years data centers requiring 5 GW of power may be required to train AI models, White House technology adviser Tarun Chhabra said in a call with reporters, according to Utility Dive.
A role for nuclear: The DOE will support the safe and responsible deployment of nuclear energy, the White House said.
And the state department “will engage allies and partners on steps to build trusted AI infrastructure around the world. This work will support global efforts to advance the development of clean energy technologies, such as small modular nuclear reactors,” Biden’s statement said.
Patrick White, research director at the Nuclear Innovation Alliance think tank in Washington, D.C., said the push for AI infrastructure should include new nuclear sources.
“New nuclear energy can provide the gigawatts of high-reliability, clean, round-the-clock energy needed to power new AI infrastructure. Deployment of new nuclear energy on the same sites as new AI infrastructure would create clean, reliable electricity that doesn't require large amounts of new transmission infrastructure, energy storage, or impact existing customers,” he said.
These units could provide large amounts of dispatchable clean energy while also requiring the smallest amount of land per unit of energy generation source—and could draw international attention.
“Countries around the world are interested in new nuclear energy for their energy, climate, and national security benefits. Deployment of new nuclear reactors domestically will create a pathway to international export of U.S. nuclear technology and catalyze new 100-year partnerships on nuclear technology with our allies,” White said.
