As the United States and China compete for technological dominance, President Donald Trump is planning a sweeping set of executive actions to accelerate the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in the U.S. by boosting energy supplies. According to sources close to the planning, the proposed orders are designed to address the escalating power demands of AI data centers and position the U.S. as the global leader in the AI race.
Training large-scale AI models such as those behind ChatGPT and autonomous systems requires massive computational power, translating to a surge in electricity consumption. This demand is already straining energy grids across several states and driving the first significant increase in U.S. power needs in decades.
Trump’s proposed executive package reportedly includes fast-tracking permits for energy infrastructure projects, easing regulations for power generation particularly from fossil fuels and incentivizing private investment in data center construction. The goal is to ensure that U.S.-based AI developers have reliable and scalable power access, a key competitive advantage over China.
The former president, who is campaigning to return to the White House in 2025, has positioned AI as a critical arena in the broader geopolitical contest with China. His team argues that without immediate federal intervention to secure energy supplies, the U.S. risks falling behind its top economic and military rival.
AI’s growing appetite for electricity is also sparking fresh debate over the energy mix of the future. While some energy experts advocate for a transition to renewable sources, insiders suggest Trump’s actions will favor traditional energy sources such as natural gas, coal, and nuclear arguing they offer more reliable base-load power for 24/7 data center operations.
Critics, however, caution that favoring fossil fuels may sideline climate goals and ignore the long-term cost-effectiveness of renewables. Yet with AI seen as a transformative force in both national defense and economic competitiveness, the push for power security is rapidly gaining bipartisan urgency.
As AI’s influence accelerates, Trump’s energy-focused executive orders could mark a pivotal moment in aligning U.S. infrastructure with the demands of the digital future.
