Amid growing concerns over the energy demands of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday establishing a “National Energy Dominance Council.” The council is tasked with addressing the significant electricity needs required to secure the nation’s lead in the AI race against China.
“We’re going to be energy dominant like nobody else, and this doesn’t even discuss all of the electricity that we’re going to be producing for all of the AI plants,” Trump said during the signing ceremony.
“They need at least double the electricity we have right now,” he added, underscoring the urgency of the energy supply issue.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, who attended the event, described the move as critical for maintaining America’s competitive edge. “The U.S. is in an AI arms race with China. The only way we win is with more electricity,” Burgum said.
The White House stated that the newly formed council will coordinate energy policy across federal agencies, streamline the permitting process, and facilitate the production and distribution of energy resources.
This initiative aligns with Trump’s campaign slogan of “energy dominance,” including increased domestic oil and gas production and reversing previous concerns about carbon emissions raised during the Biden administration.
The council also aims to mitigate the potential impact of Trump’s trade policies, which could drive up energy prices through tariffs on imports or exports.
The AI industry’s demand for electricity has become a pressing issue, with data servers already straining the country’s aging and underfunded power infrastructure. Chronic underinvestment in the energy sector, along with the retirement of older nuclear plants, has further exacerbated the problem.
Officials estimate that by 2028, tech companies will require up to five gigawat
