Advancing United States Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure
Published Date: 1/17/2025
Presidential Document
Summary
The U.S. is stepping up to lead the world in building powerful AI technology right here at home. This means big investments in supercomputers, clean energy, and secure supply chains to keep AI safe and strong for national security and the economy. Starting now, this plan will help American companies and workers compete and thrive while keeping energy costs low and innovation booming.
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Lessee Must Procure Hourly-Matched Clean Power
Leases and contracts for frontier AI data centers on Federal sites must require non‑Federal parties to procure sufficient new clean power generation resources that match the data center's planned hourly electricity needs; this requirement is part of lease frameworks due June 30, 2025. The order ties operation of AI data centers on Federal land to the procurement of deliverable clean electricity.
Non-Federal Parties Pay All Development Costs
Lease frameworks will require non‑Federal parties to bear all costs related to building and operating frontier AI infrastructure on Federal sites, including environmental reviews, clean power procurement, transmission upgrades, decommissioning costs, and the fair market value of leasing Federal lands. These terms are to be developed and applied by June 30, 2025.
Federal Land Leases for AI Data Centers
The Secretaries of Defense and Energy must each identify at least 3 Federal sites by February 28, 2025, and launch competitive solicitations by March 31, 2025, to lease Federal land to non‑Federal entities to build frontier AI data centers. Solicitations must close within 30 days and any winning proposals will be announced by June 30, 2025.
High Labor Standards for Buildout
Solicitations and lease terms will require use of high labor standards for construction and operations—such as paying prevailing wages, hiring registered apprentices, and using project labor agreements—when building and operating frontier AI infrastructure. These requirements are specified as selection criteria and as lease/contract conditions to be set by June 30, 2025.
Reserved Opportunity and Help for Small Firms
The Secretaries must, where feasible, select at least one winning proposal submitted jointly by a consortium of two or more small‑ or medium‑sized organizations (if such proposals meeting qualifications are received) and provide technical assistance to small‑ or medium‑sized organizations seeking to submit proposals. Selection criteria and assistance are to be implemented as part of the solicitations and selections announced by March 31 and June 30, 2025.
Startups Can Access Spare Compute Capacity
Lease terms will require owners/operators of frontier AI data centers on Federal sites to develop plans to make computational resources not dedicated to frontier training available for commercial use by startups and small firms on nondiscriminatory terms and in ways that minimize barriers to interoperability and entry.
Security, Research Access, and Investment Reporting
Non‑Federal parties operating frontier AI data centers on Federal sites must adhere to technical security standards, sign a memorandum of understanding with the AI Safety Institute at NIST to facilitate collaborative research and evaluations, provide Federal access to models for national‑security uses, and report investments or financial capital involved in development and operation. These obligations are part of lease frameworks and related requirements to be set by June 30, 2025.
U.S. Fabrication Preference for Leading-Edge Chips
AI developers operating frontier data centers on Federal sites must either procure an appropriate share (by monetary value) of leading‑edge logic semiconductors fabricated in the United States to the maximum extent practicable or implement an approved plan to qualify U.S.-fabricated chips for use; the Secretaries will set any such requirements in consultation with Commerce.
Protecting Electricity Prices and Reporting Requirement
Within 180 days (from the date of the order), the Secretary of Energy must report to the President on the potential effects of AI data centers on electricity prices for consumers and businesses and provide technical assistance to State public utility commissions on rate structures to enable AI infrastructure to use clean energy without increasing electricity or water prices. The Secretary must also engage applicants on the report's findings.
Priority Geothermal Zones and Geothermal Leasing Help
By March 15, 2025, the Secretary of the Interior shall, if possible, designate at least five Priority Geothermal Zones to support geothermal power generation; within 180 days the Secretary must also establish a program to provide technical assistance and streamline direct‑use geothermal leasing on BLM lands. These steps are intended to accelerate geothermal development to serve AI infrastructure.
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