President Donald Trump recently declared a national energy emergency to expedite construction of power plants focused on artificial intelligence (AI). He allowed these plants to use any fuel, including coal, bypassing climate targets and existing regulations. Trump emphasized the U.S.’s goal to build advanced AI infrastructure quickly, addressing concerns about grid reliability during emergencies.
The initiative comes amid a fierce competition with China in the AI sector. Earlier in his administration, Trump announced a joint venture with major tech companies like OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank to invest billions in AI infrastructure under a project called Stargate.
Power demand for AI data centers is expected to surge, pushing for reliable energy sources. While many tech firms focus on renewable energy, there’s growing interest in nuclear power due to rising electricity needs. Analysts suggest natural gas will play a key role because it’s abundant, dependable, and deployable faster than nuclear options.
Trump also proposed connecting AI data centers directly to power plants rather than relying on the grid, sparking debate over potential disruptions to existing utility models.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/23/trump-says-he-will-approve-ai-power-plants-using-emergency-declaration.html