Biden Signs Order To Open Federal Sites For AI

On Tuesday, President Biden signed an executive order aimed at ensuring that the artificial intelligence industry has ample computing power and electrical resources in the years ahead. The directive specifically opens up federal lands for the development of extensive data centers and clean energy facilities.

This order instructs federal agencies to expedite the approval processes for large-scale AI infrastructure projects on federal properties, increase the availability of federal locations for data centers and energy production, and seamlessly integrate these new infrastructures into local power grids. The Departments of Energy and Defense are each tasked with identifying three sites where private companies can construct AI data centers, followed by “competitive solicitations” for interested builders at those locations.

The executive order goes beyond merely facilitating AI projects; it implements several safeguards and stipulations for how these initiatives can be carried out. Specifically, it requires companies to finance the construction of their facilities and ensure they have sufficient clean energy sources to fully power the data centers upon their completion.

The race to achieve artificial general intelligence, coupled with the ambitious goal of developing larger language models, has ramped up the electricity and cooling demands of AI data centers in recent years. A report from the Department of Energy in December projected that electricity usage by data centers has tripled over the past decade and could potentially triple again by 2028.

Similarly, a report from JLL predicts that power demand for data centers will double by 2029. Additionally, the current trend sees data center infrastructure clustered in specific geographical areas, putting significant strain on local power grids and creating a risk of power delivery issues and increased instances of brownouts.

President Biden remarked in a prepared statement, “AI will have profound implications for national security and the potential to greatly enhance American lives if responsibly managed, from aiding in disease cures to helping communities withstand the effects of climate change.” He emphasized the importance of not taking America’s technological leadership for granted, stating that the nation should not compromise essential environmental standards while striving to remain at the forefront of technology.