The United States risks falling behind in the global artificial intelligence race due to outdated energy regulations, according to an opinion piece published by the New York Post. The author argues that President Donald Trump should rescind federal power-plant regulations established in 2009 under President Barack Obama's administration, which declared greenhouse gas emissions a danger to public health and served as the basis for restrictions on the power sector.
These regulations, described as "Obama-era policies designed to push some of America’s most reliable and abundant sources of energy out of the market," are seen as a significant obstacle to generating the vast amounts of electricity needed to power data centers and computing infrastructure essential for AI advancements. The piece emphasizes that energy is paramount in the age of AI, with global economies investing heavily in its development.
Advances in coal-fired power plant design and emissions-control technology have made these facilities cleaner, according to the author. The U.S. possesses substantial recoverable coal reserves, estimated at 249 billion tons, which could power American industry for years. The opinion suggests that these regulations, driven by an activist agenda aiming to eliminate fossil fuels, overlook the potential of abundant and affordable electricity generation.
The article points to states like California and New York, which have reportedly faced challenges after retiring traditional power generation sources, now extending the life of existing plants and embracing nuclear power as their renewable energy projects fall short of providing reliable electricity. With electricity demand increasing due to the burgeoning AI boom, the piece advocates for greater reliance on all reliable energy sources, including coal, natural gas, and nuclear power.
Major technology companies are reportedly making significant investments in reliable power sources. Meta is partnering with Oklo to build a nuclear power plant, while Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have secured agreements for nuclear and other baseload power. These companies, the author contends, recognize that weather-dependent sources like wind and solar alone cannot support the infrastructure required for AI.
To secure America's energy future and its leadership in AI, the author urges Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to immediately rescind the Obama-era regulations. Furthermore, the piece calls for Congress to codify these changes into law to ensure long-term energy policy stability beyond a single presidential term. The author concludes that nations that lead in the AI age will be those capable of producing abundant, affordable, and reliable power, and failure to address potential electricity shortages could have catastrophic economic consequences.