On February 15, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order establishing a new Energy Commission in the United States. The purpose of this commission is to promote electricity production and supply, strengthen the U.S.’s leading position in the global artificial intelligence (AI) field, and counter competition from China.
President Trump signed the executive order on February 14, creating the “National Energy Dominance Council,” with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum serving as the chairman and Energy Secretary Chris Wright as the vice chairman.
In the executive order, Trump emphasized the need to expand various forms of reliable and affordable energy production to combat inflation, stimulate the economy, create high-paying jobs, rebuild America’s leadership in manufacturing, lead globally in artificial intelligence, and utilize commercial and diplomatic leverage to bring an end to conflicts worldwide.
According to the White House statement, this new Energy Commission will coordinate energy policies among federal agencies and streamline licensing, production, and distribution of various energy sources.
During the signing of the executive order, Trump told reporters, “We will fully dominate the energy sector, which includes the power we provide for all AI factories.”
Interior Secretary Burgum, who attended the signing ceremony, stated, “The United States is engaged in an AI arms race with China. The only way we win this race is by producing more electricity.”
This move aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to accelerate the exploration and production of U.S. oil and natural gas resources and contrasts with the Biden administration’s concerns about carbon emissions and climate change impacts.
At the same time, this also serves as a precautionary measure by the Trump administration against potential increases in energy costs due to new tariff policies. If energy imports or U.S. exports are affected by tariffs, energy prices might rise.
The artificial intelligence industry has a critical need for electricity, with database servers already putting a strain on America’s power supply.
The long-term underinvestment in America’s power supply, coupled with the closure of aging nuclear power plants, has exacerbated the situation.
CEOs of tech companies have been urging the Trump administration to prioritize energy needs to meet the demands of their AI training processes.
The U.S. government estimates that by as early as 2028, American tech companies’ AI training energy demand could reach up to 5,000 megawatts, equivalent to the electricity consumption of approximately five million households.