President Joe Biden issued an executive order to develop AI data centers on federal sites.
“Cutting-edge AI will have profound implications for national security and enormous potential to improve Americans’ lives if harnessed responsibly, from helping cure disease to keeping communities safe by mitigating the effects of climate change,” Biden said. “However, we cannot take our lead for granted. We will not let America be out-built when it comes to the technology that will define the future, nor should we sacrifice critical environmental standards and our shared efforts to protect clean air and clean water.”
Biden declared that AI infrastructure is “vital to America’s continued economic competitiveness,” advances national security, and is central to developing clean energy technology.
According to the order, agencies will “lease federal sites owned by the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Energy (DOE) to host gigawatt-scale AI data centers.” These sites will permit the private sector to “build AI data centers and clean power facilities based on those sites’ accessibility to high-capacity transmission infrastructure and minimized adverse effects on communities, the natural environment, and commercial resources.”
The order further states that the DOE will facilitate the interconnection of AI infrastructure to the electric grid.
Bloomberg reported last month that AI data centers are “distorting” the power grid. The outlet’s analysis found that “more than three-quarters of highly-distorted power readings across the country are within 50 miles of significant data center activity.”
When electricity’s wave patterns “deviate from what’s considered ideal, it distorts the power that flows into homes,” Bloomberg explained.
Distorted waves may lead to surges or sags in electricity, contributing to sparks and fires.
“Distortions mean that even as electricity is flowing to homes, the quality can be eroded enough to destroy appliances and increase vulnerability to electrical fires if there’s a voltage surge,” the report stated. “Poorer power quality overall can also eventually lead to lights flickering along with brownouts and blackouts.”
Bloomberg and Whisker Labs, alongside DC Byte, analyzed power quality data, finding that households with the worst electric quality are “located within 20 miles of significant data center activity.” About 3.7 million Americans live in these areas.