Key Points
- Biden’s executive order targets AI energy demands with gigawatt-scale data centers on federal land.
- Companies must purchase U.S.-made semiconductors for projects on federal sites.
- AI developers will require five gigawatts of data center capacity by 2028 for advanced models.
- The initiative includes measures to streamline grid interconnections and permitting.
U.S. President Joe Biden is set to sign an executive order on Tuesday to address the escalating energy demands of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) data centers while bolstering national security and clean energy initiatives. The order facilitates leasing federal land, particularly from the Defense and Energy departments, to host gigawatt-scale AI data centers and new clean power facilities to meet pressing energy requirements.
In a statement, Biden emphasized that the move would accelerate the development of next-generation AI infrastructure in the U.S., enhancing economic competitiveness, national security, AI safety, and clean energy adoption. Companies utilizing federal land for these projects will be required to purchase a proportionate share of American-made semiconductors, further supporting the administration’s $30 billion investment in U.S. chip production.
White House technology adviser Tarun Chhabra highlighted the immense computing power and electricity required for frontier AI models, predicting that by 2028, top AI developers will need data centers capable of five gigawatts of capacity to train such models. Chhabra stressed the importance of building secure domestic infrastructure to ensure advanced AI systems are trained and stored in the U.S., safeguarding national security and limiting adversaries’ access.
In tandem with this initiative, the Commerce Department announced tighter restrictions on AI chip and technology exports to maintain the U.S.’s edge in advanced computing and block China’s access to key technologies. The administration is also taking steps to expedite permitting, streamline interconnections to the electric grid, and advance transmission development around federal sites to facilitate rapid infrastructure deployment.
Chhabra noted the significant risks associated with AI’s capabilities in military applications, including potential misuse for cyberattacks or weapons development. Ensuring domestic control of AI infrastructure prevents adversaries from exploiting these technologies.