Biden opens federal land for AI data centers, sets rules for developers

Key Points

  • President Joe Biden issued an executive order to speed up domestic AI infrastructure construction and address national security risks.
  • The order allows the Department of Defense and Energy to lease federal sites for AI data centers, requiring developers to use clean energy and U.S.-manufactured semiconductors.

Summary

President Joe Biden has taken a significant step towards enhancing the U.S.'s AI capabilities by issuing an executive order on January 13, 2025. This order aims to accelerate the construction of AI infrastructure domestically while addressing national security concerns. It empowers the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy to lease federal land for the development of gigawatt-scale AI data centers. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to keep AI technology within the U.S., recognizing its potential impact on various sectors like health care, transportation, and education. Developers leasing these sites are required to not only cover the full cost of building, operating, and maintaining these centers but also to ensure they use clean energy to match their capacity needs, preventing an increase in electricity costs. Additionally, they must purchase a significant portion of U.S.-manufactured semiconductors and pay workers prevailing wages. This move comes at a time when global electricity consumption from data centers, AI, and cryptocurrency is expected to double by 2026, highlighting the urgency of sustainable and secure AI development.

cnbc
January 14, 2025
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