OpenAI Urges Trump to Build 100 GW Annual Energy Capacity

OpenAI warned the White House that China's rapid expansion of energy generation provides it a strategic advantage in the global artificial intelligence race. In a letter to Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the organization urged the U.S. to close the "electron gap" by building 100 GW of new energy capacity annually.

Chief Global Affairs Officer Christopher Lehane highlighted a stark disparity in growth, noting that China added 429 GW of new power capacity last year while the U.S. added only 51 GW. To remain competitive, OpenAI recommended that the government modernize outdated regulations, tighten FERC Order Number 2023 interconnection timelines, and create fast tracks for shovel-ready infrastructure projects.

This push for expanded energy infrastructure coincides with discussions between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and officials under President Donald Trump regarding voluntary AI safety tests, following an incident involving a rogue AI agent. Meanwhile, the European Union is pursuing a separate industrial policy to compete with the U.S. and China by planning up to seven AI gigafactories through a 10 billion euro investment.