U.S. Rep. James Comer representing Kentucky's 1st Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. James Comer representing Kentucky's 1st Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
The Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs conducted a hearing entitled "America’s AI Moonshot: The Economics of AI, Data Centers, and Power Consumption." The session focused on effectively leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen the United States' economic leadership, national security, and technology.
The hearing emphasized collaboration with the private sector as essential for ensuring AI remains a catalyst for national security and economic growth. President Trump signed Executive Order 14179 to support AI innovation domestically and to remove barriers impeding American dominance in the tech field.
Neil Chilson, Head of AI Policy at the Abundance Institute, highlighted that "The U.S. private sector leads the world in innovation, investment, and deployment of AI technologies." Chilson noted the importance of government action in addressing challenges and that AI is reshaping jobs and industries, contributing to a dynamic economy.
Josh Levi, President of the Data Center Coalition, discussed energy needs to fulfill AI demand. He stated, "The U.S. will require a diverse set of energy resources and technologies to maintain its edge." He also noted data centers' roles in commercializing new technologies, including advanced nuclear and enhanced geothermal solutions.
Energy production emerged as vital to unlocking AI's potential. Mark Mills, from the National Center for Energy Analytics, drew attention to power requirements necessary for AI advancement, saying, "Most of the new power will come from natural gas combustion turbines and engines."
Subcommittee Chairman Eric Burlison underscored President Trump's commitment to AI leadership with: "America can—and will—become a global leader in the field of artificial intelligence." Burlison pointed out the skills and expertise needed to enhance economic prosperity with support from a presidency prioritizing such innovation.
Chairman Burlison questioned the perceived fears over AI growth, to which Chilson responded, citing significant improvements in fields like healthcare fueled by AI. Representative Gary Palmer emphasized American energy production's necessity in AI advancement, while Representative Lauren Boebert criticized recent energy policies for hindering AI development.
Overall, the hearing posited that the U.S.'s prospective AI leadership requires strategic energy policies and robust private-sector engagement.
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