Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Industrial  -  January 14, 2025

Federal Govt Issues Order to Build AI Data Centers, Clean Power Infrastructure 

President Joe Biden signed a historic executive order to accelerate the speed at which the U.S. builds the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI), including large-scale data centers and new clean power infrastructure.

The order will direct the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy to lease federal sites where the private sector can build frontier AI infrastructure at speed and scale, according to a statement. Some of this new capacity will also be committed for use by small businesses and startups. 

Domestic data centers for training and operating powerful AI models will help the U.S. facilitate AI’s safe and secure development, harness AI in service of national security, and prevent adversaries from accessing powerful systems to the detriment of the military and national security.  

To accelerate AI infrastructure development, agencies will leverage their authorities to:

• Lease federal sites owned by the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Energy (DOE) to host gigawatt-scale AI data centers. DOD and DOE will select sites where the private sector can build AI data centers and clean power facilities based on those sites’ accessibility to high-capacity transmission infrastructure and minimized adverse effects on communities and the environment.  

• Catalyze deployment of new clean energy generation to support AI infrastructure. Developers selected to build on DOD and DOE sites will be required to bring online sufficient clean energy generation resources to match the full electricity needs of their data centers, consistent with applicable law. 

• Prioritize full and expeditious permitting of AI infrastructure on federal sites.

• Accelerate transmission development around federal sites. To help ensure the timely operation of AI infrastructure on federal sites, DOE will take appropriate steps to coordinate with developers in constructing, financing, facilitating and planning the upgrade and development of transmission lines around those sites. 

• Facilitate interconnection of AI infrastructure to the electric grid. DOE will engage utilities on their requirements for interconnecting AI infrastructure on federal sites and on opportunities to accelerate interconnection via grid-enhancing technologies, operational changes and other measures. 

• Ensure low electricity prices for consumers. Developers selected to build on DOD and DOE sites will be required, consistent with applicable law, to pay all costs of building and operating AI infrastructure so that this development does not raise electricity prices for consumers. 

• Advance allies and partners’ development of AI infrastructure. This work will support global efforts to advance the development of clean energy technologies, such as small modular nuclear reactors; catalyze investment in AI infrastructure; and strengthen data center safety and security. 

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