In September, the Trump Administration took a positive step forward to rapidly expand America’s electricity generation and transmission capacity by launching the Speed to Power Initiative. To tackle growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, advanced manufacturing and industrial facilities, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Request for Information (RFI). This effort, which seeks solutions, data and concepts from industry experts, represents a pivotal opportunity to secure America’s energy and technology leadership.
The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher
The AI Action Plan outlines the Administration’s position that “AI is the first digital service in modern life that challenges America to build vastly greater energy generation than we have today.” The nations that deliver gigawatt (GW)-scale electricity fastest will host the infrastructure defining the future economy.
Peak U.S. electric demand could grow by up to 26 percent by 2035, and many regions are already facing multi-GW load increases. With China’s development of AI and energy accelerating, this is no longer about keeping the lights on—it’s about ensuring America’s security and prosperity for decades to come.
The urgency has only intensified with the recent launch of the Administration’s Genesis Mission. This will leverage the government’s massive data center and research computing resources to accelerate the development and utilization of AI to advance scientific discovery. This whole-of-government approach underscores that energy infrastructure is now inseparable from technological leadership.
DOE cast a wide net with this RFI, seeking input from state energy offices, public utility commissions, electric utilities, regional grid operators, transmission and generation developers, large energy users and other stakeholders. The Department specifically requested identification of large-scale projects that could enable 3 to 20 GWs of incremental load—the scale needed to power America’s AI ambitions. In response to DOE’s call, stakeholders across the country submitted recommendations; CRES offered its own, advocating for technology-neutral, market-driven solutions that leverage existing infrastructure.
Lower Barriers, Accelerate Deployment
Federal policy—not technology—remains the primary barrier to meeting growing energy demands. Regulatory complexity creates uncertainty in the market itself, lowering the likelihood for investments in much-needed energy infrastructure. Despite recent reforms lowering median review times, the federal permitting process remains fragmented and unpredictable. Ultimately, federal policies that were initially well-intentioned have handcuffed America’s ability to meet its growing energy needs.
The Speed to Power Initiative offers a crucial opportunity to cut through this red tape and deliver immediate benefits. As outlined in CRES’s comments, the successful execution of this program requires a comprehensive strategy focusing on:
- Technical Solutions: Leverage existing infrastructure by upgrading and repowering facilities for rapid GW-scale gains. Modernize transmission with reconductoring, potentially doubling transfer capability without new rights-of-way. Deploy grid enhancing technologies and storage to unlock latent capacity while ensuring reliability.
- Financial De-risking: DOE tools, such as grants, loans and loan guarantees, can bridge financing gaps and de-risk innovative technologies. These tools should accelerate market investment, not replace it, while remaining technology-neutral and performance-based.
- Streamlining Processes: Strengthen federal coordination through concurrent reviews and interagency agreements. Alleviate interconnection backlogs by evaluating multiple projects simultaneously. Additionally, interconnection prioritization shouldn’t be based solely on queue position.
- Workforce Development: Expand the pipeline of electricians, linemen and power plant operators through industry-led training partnerships to ensure America can deliver these critical projects.
Building Momentum
The path forward is clear: remove barriers, leverage existing assets and let American innovation lead. The Speed to Power Initiative has already generated substantial stakeholder engagement, with organizations across the energy spectrum—from utilities to clean energy advocates to free-market think tanks—submitting detailed recommendations for accelerating America’s energy infrastructure development.
You can find CRES’s comments on the DOE’s Speed to Power Initiative here.