Biden Signs Order for AI Data Centers on Federal Land, Focusing on Clean Energy and National Security

Jan 14, 2025, 03:40 PM

President Joe Biden has signed an executive order aimed at accelerating the development of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in the United States. The order directs the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy to lease federal land to private companies for the construction of gigawatt-scale AI data centers and clean power facilities. These facilities are intended to be powered by clean energy, aligning with the administration's commitment to environmental standards and the clean energy transition. The initiative is designed to enhance economic competitiveness, bolster national security, and ensure AI safety, while not imposing any new costs on American families. The order also emphasizes the need to prevent adversaries from accessing powerful AI systems, which could impact U.S. military and national security. Additionally, the move is seen as a way to maintain U.S. leadership in AI technology and prevent reliance on other countries for AI tools. The construction of these data centers will be done with public labor agreements, and some sites are reserved for small and medium-sized companies.