Experts Warn U.S. Energy Needs Critical for AI Competition
WASHINGTON — The race to lead in artificial intelligence might hinge on which nation can maintain a reliable energy supply, specialists caution.
During a discussion at a recent event co-hosted by the Daily Caller and the Daily Caller News Foundation, industry leaders suggested that America’s AI goals could outstrip its current energy capacity unless significant infrastructure developments occur. Christopher Johnson, who heads the American Energy Leadership Institute (AELI), along with Mark Bednar from Monument Advocacy, emphasized that the U.S. must enhance its power resources and establish data centers domestically, or risk seeing its AI infrastructure shift to China.
Johnson pointed out that if the U.S. isn’t developing data centers locally—where energy can be sourced from cleaner methods like solar and nuclear—then all that computational power might head to China, where coal plants are being constructed at an alarming rate. “This is totally backwards,” he stated during a panel moderated by investigative journalist Sean Moran.
China reportedly initiated construction on 94.5 gigawatts of new coal-fired capacity in 2024, which is a significant rise and constitutes an overwhelming majority of global coal construction. Johnson highlighted the environmental implications: “China is the biggest polluter on Earth. They operate with four times the emissions we do,” he said, making a strong argument for establishing energy facilities in the U.S. instead.
He elaborated that if climate and environmental concerns truly matter, then fueling energy production and manufacturing domestically is crucial since the U.S. adheres to some of the highest environmental standards globally.
However, Johnson expressed concern about the current energy capabilities in the U.S. “We don’t have the ability to support what we aspire to build,” he mentioned. He noted that a lot of desired manufacturing initiatives are practically unfeasible due to restrictions on energy development. “Without sufficient power to build data centers, we’ll struggle to bring back industries like steel or aluminum manufacturing, which require much higher energy and water usage,” he explained.
He warned, “This is the test. If we fail to secure energy for data centers, attracting the semiconductor industry back here will be an uphill battle.”
Currently, U.S. data centers consume around 4.4 percent of the nation’s electricity. Projections suggest this could rise to 12 percent by 2028, according to a recent Department of Energy report.
Bednar added that the conversation transcends individual facilities. He pointed out that the broader supply chain—from critical minerals to energy—plays a vital role. “The need to step up is paramount,” he asserted, cautioning that without proactive discussions among local leaders and businesses, resistance could undermine growth potential.
He emphasized the opportunities for small-town economies, suggesting that mayors could greatly benefit from new revenue generated by the tech industry. Yet, this requires collaborative efforts between companies and lawmakers to counteract opposition effectively.
Ultimately, Bednar remains optimistic about the future of AI in America. “The AI prospects here are an incredible opportunity,” he stated. “If we manage this right and bring skeptical voices into the conversation, we can foster a productive ongoing dialogue that unites both sides.”
