Official statements or press releases from the Biden administration

Biden Orders DOD and DOE to Lease Land for Gigawatt-Scale AI Data Centers and Clean Power Facilities to Enhance National Security

Jan 14, 2025, 02:19 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 federal agencies, including the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Energy (DOE), to lease federal sites to private companies for the construction of gigawatt-scale AI data centers and new clean power facilities. This initiative is designed to meet the growing energy demands of advanced AI operations, with leading AI developers expected to operate data centers with up to 5 gigawatts of capacity by 2028. The executive order emphasizes the importance of national security, stating that building AI infrastructure domestically will prevent adversaries from accessing powerful AI systems and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign countries for AI tools. It also ensures that the development does not increase electricity costs for consumers by requiring developers to pay all costs and provide prevailing wages, while meeting lab-security requirements. Biden highlighted the potential of AI to improve American lives responsibly, from aiding in disease cure to mitigating climate change effects, while stressing the need to maintain U.S. leadership in technology without compromising environmental standards and accelerating the clean energy transition.