Advancing United States Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 11 (Friday, January 17, 2025)]

[Presidential Documents]

[Pages 5469-5489]

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[FR Doc No: 2025-01395]

Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 11 / Friday, January 17, 2025 /

Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--

The President

[[Page 5469]]

Executive Order 14141 of January 14, 2025

Advancing United States Leadership in Artificial

Intelligence Infrastructure

By the authority vested in me as President by the

Constitution and the laws of the United States of

America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Purpose. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a

defining technology of our era. Recent advancements in

AI demonstrate its rapidly growing relevance to

national security, including with respect to logistics,

military capabilities, intelligence analysis, and

cybersecurity. Building AI in the United States will

help prevent adversaries from gaining access to, and

using, powerful future systems to the detriment of our

military and national security. It will also enable the

United States Government to continue harnessing AI in

service of national-security missions while preventing

the United States from becoming dependent on other

countries' infrastructure to develop and operate

powerful AI tools.

triment of our

military and national security. It will also enable the

United States Government to continue harnessing AI in

service of national-security missions while preventing

the United States from becoming dependent on other

countries' infrastructure to develop and operate

powerful AI tools.

Advances at the frontier of AI will also have

significant implications for United States economic

competitiveness. These imperatives require building AI

infrastructure in the United States on the time frame

needed to ensure United States leadership over

competitors who, already, are racing to take the lead

in AI development and adoption. Building AI in the

United States requires enormous private-sector

investments in infrastructure, especially for the

advanced computing clusters needed to train AI models

and the energy infrastructure needed to power this

work. Already, AI's electricity and computational needs

are vast, and they are set to surge in the years ahead.

This work also requires secure, reliable supply chains

for critical components needed to build AI

infrastructure, from construction materials to advanced

electronics.

eeded to power this

work. Already, AI's electricity and computational needs

are vast, and they are set to surge in the years ahead.

This work also requires secure, reliable supply chains

for critical components needed to build AI

infrastructure, from construction materials to advanced

electronics.

This order sets our Nation on the path to ensure that

future frontier AI can, and will, continue to be built

here in the United States. In building domestic AI

infrastructure, our Nation will also advance its

leadership in the clean energy technologies needed to

power the future economy, including geothermal, solar,

wind, and nuclear energy; foster a vibrant,

competitive, and open technology ecosystem in the

United States, in which small companies can compete

alongside large ones; maintain low consumer electricity

prices; and help ensure that the development of AI

infrastructure benefits the workers building it and

communities near it.

With this order, I provide a plan for protecting

national security, preserving our economic

competitiveness, revitalizing our energy

infrastructure, and ensuring United States leadership

in AI.

elopment of AI

infrastructure benefits the workers building it and

communities near it.

With this order, I provide a plan for protecting

national security, preserving our economic

competitiveness, revitalizing our energy

infrastructure, and ensuring United States leadership

in AI.

Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States

to enable the development and operation of AI

infrastructure, including data centers, in the United

States in accordance with five guiding principles. When

undertaking the actions set forth in this order,

executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall

adhere to these principles, as appropriate and

consistent with applicable law:

(a) The development of AI infrastructure should

advance United States national security and leadership

in AI. Meeting this goal will require steps by the

Federal Government, in collaboration with the private

sector, to advance AI development and use AI for future

national-security missions, including through the work

described in National Security Memorandum 25 of October

24, 2024 (Advancing the United States' Leadership in

Artificial

[[Page 5470]]

Federal Government, in collaboration with the private

sector, to advance AI development and use AI for future

national-security missions, including through the work

described in National Security Memorandum 25 of October

24, 2024 (Advancing the United States' Leadership in

Artificial

[[Page 5470]]

Intelligence; Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to

Fulfill National Security Objectives; and Fostering the

Safety, Security, and Trustworthiness of Artificial

Intelligence) (NSM-25). It will also require the use of

safeguards to improve the cyber, supply-chain, and

physical security of the laboratories at which powerful

AI is developed, stored, and used. Additionally,

protecting United States national security will require

further work to evaluate and manage risks related to

the powerful capabilities that future frontier AI may

possess.

(b) The development of AI infrastructure should

advance United States economic competitiveness,

including by fostering a vibrant technology ecosystem.

Already, AI is creating new jobs and industries, and

its effects are being felt in sectors across the

economy. The Federal Government must ensure that the

United States remains competitive in the global

economy, including through harnessing the benefits of

this technology for all Americans

system.

Already, AI is creating new jobs and industries, and

its effects are being felt in sectors across the

economy. The Federal Government must ensure that the

United States remains competitive in the global

economy, including through harnessing the benefits of

this technology for all Americans. It must also promote

a fair, open, and competitive AI ecosystem so that

small developers and entrepreneurs can continue to

drive innovation--a priority highlighted in both

Executive Order 14110 of October 30, 2023 (Safe,

Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of

Artificial Intelligence), and NSM-25--as well as to

support secure, reliable supply-chain infrastructure

for AI activities.

(c) The United States can and should lead the world

in operating the next generation of AI data centers

with clean power. Meeting this goal will require

building on recent successes to modernize our Nation's

energy infrastructure; improve permitting processes;

and support investments in, and expeditious development

of, both currently available and emerging clean energy

technologies, such as geothermal energy, nuclear

energy, and long-duration energy storage used to store

clean energy, as well as relevant supply chains. The

United States must not be surpassed in its support for

the development, commercialization, and operation of

clean energy technologies at home and abroad, and the

rapid buildout of AI infrastructure offers another

vital opportunity to accelerate and deploy these energy

technologies

pply chains. The

United States must not be surpassed in its support for

the development, commercialization, and operation of

clean energy technologies at home and abroad, and the

rapid buildout of AI infrastructure offers another

vital opportunity to accelerate and deploy these energy

technologies. To help ensure that new data center

electricity demand does not take clean power away from

other end users, result in resource adequacy issues, or

increase grid emissions, the construction of AI

infrastructure must be matched with new, clean

electricity generation resources.

(d) The development of AI infrastructure should

proceed without raising energy costs for American

consumers and businesses, and it should have strong

community support. The companies developing,

commercializing, and deploying AI must finance the cost

of building the infrastructure needed for AI

operations, including the development of next-

generation power infrastructure built for these

operations.

(e) The development of AI infrastructure should

benefit those working to build it. Meeting this goal

will require high labor standards and safeguards for

the buildout of AI infrastructure, consultation and

close collaboration with communities affected by this

infrastructure's development and operation, and

continuous work to mitigate risks and potential harms.

The American people more broadly must safely enjoy the

gains and opportunities from technological innovation

in the AI ecosystem.

ltation and

close collaboration with communities affected by this

infrastructure's development and operation, and

continuous work to mitigate risks and potential harms.

The American people more broadly must safely enjoy the

gains and opportunities from technological innovation

in the AI ecosystem.

Sec. 3. Definitions. For purposes of this order:

(a) The term ``agency'' means each agency described

in 44 U.S.C. 3502(1), except for the independent

regulatory agencies described in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5).

(b) The term ``AI data center'' means a data center

used primarily with respect to developing or operating

AI.

(c) The term ``AI infrastructure'' refers

collectively to AI data centers, generation and storage

resources procured to deliver electrical energy to data

centers, and transmission facilities developed or

upgraded for the same purpose.

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(d) The term ``AI model'' means a component of an

information system that implements AI technology and

uses computational, statistical, or machine-learning

techniques to produce outputs from a given set of

inputs.

ansmission facilities developed or

upgraded for the same purpose.

[[Page 5471]]

(d) The term ``AI model'' means a component of an

information system that implements AI technology and

uses computational, statistical, or machine-learning

techniques to produce outputs from a given set of

inputs.

(e) The term ``clean energy'' or ``clean energy

generation resources'' means generation resources that

produce few or no emissions of carbon dioxide during

operation, including when paired with clean storage

technologies. This term includes geothermal, nuclear

fission, nuclear fusion, solar, wind, hydroelectric,

hydrokinetic (including tidal, wave, and current), and

marine energy; and carbon capture, utilization, and

storage technologies (for which the carbon capture

equipment meets the definition set forth in 26 C.F.R.

1.45Q-2(c)) that operate with fossil fuel generation

resources, that achieve carbon dioxide capture rates of

90 percent or higher on an annual basis, and that

permanently sequester the captured carbon dioxide.

(f) The term ``clean power'' means electricity

generated by the generation resources described in

subsection (e) of this section.

(g) The term ``clean repowering'' means the

practice of siting new clean generation sources at a

site with an existing point of interconnection and

generation sources operating with fossil fuels, such

that some output or capacity from existing generation

sources is replaced by the new clean generation

sources.

``clean repowering'' means the

practice of siting new clean generation sources at a

site with an existing point of interconnection and

generation sources operating with fossil fuels, such

that some output or capacity from existing generation

sources is replaced by the new clean generation

sources.

(h) The term ``critical electric infrastructure

information'' has the same meaning as set forth in 18

C.F.R. 388.113(c).

(i) The term ``data center'' means a facility used

to store, manage, process, and disseminate electronic

information for a computer network, and it includes any

facility that is composed of one or more permanent or

semi-permanent structures, or that is a dedicated space

within such structure, and operates persistently in a

fixed location; that is used for the housing of

information technology equipment, including servers,

mainframe computers, high-performance computing

devices, or data-storage devices; and that is actively

used for the hosting of information and information

systems that are accessed by other systems or by users

on other devices.

(j) The term ``distributed energy resource'' has

the same meaning as set forth in 18 C.F.R.

35.28(b)(10).

devices, or data-storage devices; and that is actively

used for the hosting of information and information

systems that are accessed by other systems or by users

on other devices.

(j) The term ``distributed energy resource'' has

the same meaning as set forth in 18 C.F.R.

35.28(b)(10).

(k) The term ``Federal Permitting Agencies'' refers

to the agency members of the Federal Permitting

Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council)

established under section 41002 of the Fixing America's

Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, 42 U.S.C. 4370m-1,

as well as any other agency with authority to issue a

Federal permit or approval required for the development

or operation of AI infrastructure.

(l) The term ``Federal Risk and Authorization

Management Program'' refers to the program established

to provide an approach for the adoption and use of

cloud services by the Federal Government, as codified

in 44 U.S.C. 3607-3616 (as enacted by the FedRAMP

Authorization Act, section 5921 of Public Law 117-263).

(m) The term ``frontier AI data center'' means an

AI data center capable of being used to develop, within

a reasonable time frame, an AI model with

characteristics related either to performance or to the

computational resources used in its development that

approximately match or surpass the state of the art at

the time of the AI model's development.

(n) The term ``frontier AI infrastructure'' means

AI infrastructure for which the relevant data center is

a frontier AI data center.

ance or to the

computational resources used in its development that

approximately match or surpass the state of the art at

the time of the AI model's development.

(n) The term ``frontier AI infrastructure'' means

AI infrastructure for which the relevant data center is

a frontier AI data center.

(o) The term ``frontier AI training'' refers to the

act of developing an AI model with characteristics

related either to performance or to the computational

resources used in its development that approximately

match or surpass the state of the art at the time of

the AI model's development.

(p) The term ``generation resource'' means a

facility that produces electricity.

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(q) The terms ``interconnection,''

``interconnection facilities,'' and ``point of

interconnection'' refer to facilities and equipment

that physically and electrically connect generation

resources or electrical load to the electric grid for

the purpose of the delivery of electricity, for which

grid operators have granted all appropriate approvals

required for those facilities and equipment to operate.

(r) The term ``lab-security measures'' refers to

steps to detect, prevent, or mitigate physical, cyber,

or other threats to the operation of a data center, to

the integrity of information or other assets stored

within it, or of unauthorized access to such

information or assets.

ment to operate.

(r) The term ``lab-security measures'' refers to

steps to detect, prevent, or mitigate physical, cyber,

or other threats to the operation of a data center, to

the integrity of information or other assets stored

within it, or of unauthorized access to such

information or assets.

(s) The term ``leading-edge logic semiconductors''

refers to semiconductors produced at high volumes using

extreme ultraviolet lithography tools as defined by the

CHIPS Incentives Program Notice of Funding Opportunity,

2023-NIST-CHIPS-CFF-01.

(t) The term ``model weight'' means a numerical

parameter within an AI model that helps determine the

model's outputs in response to inputs.

(u) The term ``new source review'' refers to the

permitting program with this name in 40 C.F.R. parts 51

or 52.

(v) The term ``non-Federal parties'' refers to

private-sector entities that enter into a contract with

the Department of Defense or the Department of Energy

pursuant to section 4(g) of this order.

(w) The term ``priority geothermal zone'' refers to

lands with high potential for the development of

geothermal power generation resources, as designated by

the Secretary of the Interior, including pursuant to

section 4(c) of this order.

(x) The term ``project labor agreement'' means a

pre-hire collective bargaining agreement that

establishes the terms and conditions of a construction

project.

geothermal power generation resources, as designated by

the Secretary of the Interior, including pursuant to

section 4(c) of this order.

(x) The term ``project labor agreement'' means a

pre-hire collective bargaining agreement that

establishes the terms and conditions of a construction

project.

(y) The term ``surplus interconnection service''

has the same meaning as set forth in Federal Energy

Regulatory Commission Order No. 845.

(z) The terms ``transmission facilities'' and

``transmission infrastructure'' mean equipment or

structures, including transmission lines and related

facilities, used for the purpose of delivering

electricity.

(aa) The term ``transmission organization'' refers

to a Regional Transmission Organization or an

Independent System Operator.

(bb) The term ``transmission provider'' means an

entity that manages or operates transmission facilities

for the delivery of electric energy used primarily by

the public and that is not a transmission organization.

(cc) The term ``waters of the United States'' has

the same meaning as set forth in 33 C.F.R. 328.3(a).

The term ``transmission provider'' means an

entity that manages or operates transmission facilities

for the delivery of electric energy used primarily by

the public and that is not a transmission organization.

(cc) The term ``waters of the United States'' has

the same meaning as set forth in 33 C.F.R. 328.3(a).

Sec. 4. Establishing Federal Sites for AI

Infrastructure. (a) By February 28, 2025, the Secretary

of Defense and the Secretary of Energy shall, if

possible, each identify a minimum of 3 sites on Federal

land managed by their respective agencies that may be

suitable for the agencies to lease to non-Federal

entities for the construction and operation of a

frontier AI data center, as well as for the

construction and operation of clean energy facilities

to serve the data center, by the end of 2027. In

identifying these sites, each Secretary shall, as

feasible and appropriate, seek to prioritize sites that

possess the following characteristics, as consistent

with the objective of fully permitting and approving

work to construct a frontier AI data center at each

site by the end of 2025:

2027. In

identifying these sites, each Secretary shall, as

feasible and appropriate, seek to prioritize sites that

possess the following characteristics, as consistent

with the objective of fully permitting and approving

work to construct a frontier AI data center at each

site by the end of 2025:

(i) inclusion of sufficient terrain with appropriate land gradients, soil

durability, and other topographical characteristics for frontier AI data

centers;

(ii) minimized adverse effects from AI infrastructure development or

operation on local communities' health, wellbeing, and resource access;

natural

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or cultural resources; threatened or endangered species; and harbors or

river improvements not associated with hydropower generation resources;

(iii) proximity to any communities seeking to host AI infrastructure,

including for reasons related to local workers' access to jobs involved in

designing, building, maintaining, and operating data centers;

(iv) ready access and proximity to high-voltage transmission infrastructure

that minimizes the scale of, cost of, and timeline to develop any

transmission upgrades or development needed to interconnect AI

infrastructure, in consideration of access and proximity to:

(A) high-capacity transmission infrastructure with unused capacity, as

identified by collection activities described in section 6 of this order;

(B) any planned generation facilities that can enable delivery of

electricity to an AI data center on the site managed by each Secretary's

respective agency, that possess an executed interconnection agreement with

a transmission provider, that do not possess an executed power purchase

agreement, and for which construction has not yet begun;

(C) any lands that the Secretary of the Interior identifies pursuant to

subsection (c) of this section; and

(D) any power generation facilities with high clean repowering potential;

retary's

respective agency, that possess an executed interconnection agreement with

a transmission provider, that do not possess an executed power purchase

agreement, and for which construction has not yet begun;

(C) any lands that the Secretary of the Interior identifies pursuant to

subsection (c) of this section; and

(D) any power generation facilities with high clean repowering potential;

(v) location within geographic areas that are not at risk of persistently

failing to attain National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and where the

total cancer risk from air pollution is at or below the national average

according to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) 2020

AirToxScreen;

(vi) lack of proximity to waters of the United States for purposes of

permitting requirements;

(vii) lack of extensive restrictions on land uses associated with

constructing and operating AI infrastructure or on access to necessary

rights-of-way for such activities;

(viii) ready access to high-capacity telecommunications networks;

(ix) suitability for the development of access roads or other temporary

infrastructure necessary for the construction of AI infrastructure; and

(x) absence of other characteristics that would, if the site was used or

repurposed for AI infrastructure, compromise a competing national security

concern as determined by the relevant Secretary in consultation with the

Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.

velopment of access roads or other temporary

infrastructure necessary for the construction of AI infrastructure; and

(x) absence of other characteristics that would, if the site was used or

repurposed for AI infrastructure, compromise a competing national security

concern as determined by the relevant Secretary in consultation with the

Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.

(b) By March 15, 2025, the Secretary of the

Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of

Land Management (BLM), in consultation with the

Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, and the

Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,

shall identify sites managed by BLM that the Secretary

of the Interior, acting through the Director of BLM,

deems may be suitable for granting or issuing rights of

way to private-sector entities to construct and operate

additional clean energy facilities that are being or

may be built as components of frontier AI

infrastructure developed pursuant to this section. In

performing this work, the Secretary of the Interior, in

consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the

Secretary of Energy, shall take steps to ensure where

feasible and appropriate that any such sites identified

under this subsection include sufficient acreage for

developing clean generation resources that can deliver

sufficient electricity to each site identified under

subsection (a) of this section for matching the

capacity needs of frontier AI data centers on the

latter sites

any such sites identified

under this subsection include sufficient acreage for

developing clean generation resources that can deliver

sufficient electricity to each site identified under

subsection (a) of this section for matching the

capacity needs of frontier AI data centers on the

latter sites. The sites identified under this

subsection shall include any land managed by the

Department of the Interior that is within a region

designated by the Secretary of the Interior under

subsection (c) of this section, or a region

preliminarily identified as a candidate for such

designation. In determining the suitability of sites,

the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the

Director of BLM, shall prioritize identification of

sites that:

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(i) contain completed, permitted, or planned clean generation projects that

can enable delivery of electricity as described in this subsection and

possess an executed interconnection agreement with a transmission provider;

(ii) have been allocated as available for solar applications in the Final

Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and Proposed Resource

Management Plan Amendments for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development,

published by BLM, or that have otherwise been allocated as available for

clean-energy applications in a BLM resource management plan;

(iii) have reasonable access to and are located nearby existing high-

voltage transmission lines that have at least one gigawatt of additional

capacity available, or for which such capacity can be reasonably developed

through reconductoring, grid-enhancing technologies, or transmission

upgrades;

rwise been allocated as available for

clean-energy applications in a BLM resource management plan;

(iii) have reasonable access to and are located nearby existing high-

voltage transmission lines that have at least one gigawatt of additional

capacity available, or for which such capacity can be reasonably developed

through reconductoring, grid-enhancing technologies, or transmission

upgrades;

(iv) possess the characteristics described in subsections (a)(i)-(x) of

this section, in a manner that is consistent with the objective of fully

permitting and approving work to construct utility-scale power facilities

on a timeline that allows for the operation of those facilities by the end

of 2027 or as soon as feasible thereafter; and

(v) possess other characteristics conducive to enabling new clean power

development at such sites to contribute to lower regional electricity

prices or to bring other community benefits.

(c) By March 15, 2025, the Secretary of the

Interior, acting through the Director of BLM and in

consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall, if

possible, designate at least five regions composed of

lands or subsurface areas managed by the Department of

the Interior as Priority Geothermal Zones (PGZs). The

Secretary of the Interior shall designate those regions

based on their potential for geothermal power

generation resources, including hydrothermal and next-

generation geothermal power and thermal storage;

diversity of geological characteristics; and possession

of the characteristics described in subsections (a)(i)-

(x) and (b)(i)-(v) of this section.

ns

based on their potential for geothermal power

generation resources, including hydrothermal and next-

generation geothermal power and thermal storage;

diversity of geological characteristics; and possession

of the characteristics described in subsections (a)(i)-

(x) and (b)(i)-(v) of this section.

(d) The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of

Energy, and the Secretary of the Interior shall each

make a legal determination as to whether each site

identified pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this

section is available for lease or for the issuance of a

right of way, as appropriate, pursuant to the authority

of the Secretary that made the identification, and as

to whether the Secretary has the legal authority to

lease or grant a right of way over or upon each site

identified for the construction of frontier AI

infrastructure. For purposes of this order, a site

shall be considered ``cleared'' under this subsection

if the relevant Secretary has determined that the site

is available for lease and the Secretary concerned has

the authority to lease it.

(e) By March 31, 2025, the Secretary of Defense and

the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the heads

of any other agencies that either Secretary deems

appropriate, shall coordinate to design, launch, and

administer competitive public solicitations of

proposals from non-Federal entities to lease Federal

land to construct frontier AI infrastructure, including

frontier AI data centers, on sites identified under

subsection (a) of this section and cleared under

appropriate, shall coordinate to design, launch, and

administer competitive public solicitations of

proposals from non-Federal entities to lease Federal

land to construct frontier AI infrastructure, including

frontier AI data centers, on sites identified under

subsection (a) of this section and cleared under

subsection (d) of this section, if any. When issuing

the solicitations, the Secretaries shall announce the

sites identified under subsection (a) of this section

and cleared under subsection (d) of this section, if

any, and additional relevant information including the

sites' geographic coordinates, technical

characteristics, proximity to sites identified

consistent with subsection (b) of this section and

cleared under subsection (d) of this section, if any,

and other relevant information. The solicitations

shall, to the extent consistent with applicable law and

to the extent the Secretaries agree that such

requirements promote national defense, national

security, or the public interest, as appropriate,

require applicants to identify particular sites on

which they propose to construct and operate frontier AI

infrastructure; submit a detailed plan specifying

proposed timelines, financing methods, and technical

construction plans associated with such construction

[[Page 5475]]

the public interest, as appropriate,

require applicants to identify particular sites on

which they propose to construct and operate frontier AI

infrastructure; submit a detailed plan specifying

proposed timelines, financing methods, and technical

construction plans associated with such construction

[[Page 5475]]

work, including a contingency plan for decommissioning

infrastructure on Federal sites; submit a plan that

describes proposed frontier AI training work to occur

at the site once operational; submit a plan for

detailing the extent of the use of high labor and

construction standards as described in subsection

(g)(viii) of this section; and submit a plan with

proposed lab-security measures, including personnel and

material access requirements, that could be associated

with the operation of frontier AI infrastructure. These

requirements should be designed to ensure adequate

collection of information from applicants regarding the

criteria in subsections (g)(i)-(xvi) of this section.

The solicitations shall close within 30 days of their

issuance.

(f) By March 31, 2025, the Secretary of the

Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense

and the Secretary of Energy, shall publicize the sites

identified under subsection (b) of this section and

cleared under subsection (d) of this section, if any,

and additional relevant information including the

sites' geographic coordinates, technical

characteristics, proximity to sites identified

consistent with subsection (a) of this section and

cleared under subs

r subsection (b) of this section and

cleared under subsection (d) of this section, if any,

and additional relevant information including the

sites' geographic coordinates, technical

characteristics, proximity to sites identified

consistent with subsection (a) of this section and

cleared under subsection (d) of this section, if any,

and other relevant information.

(g) By June 30, 2025, the Secretary of Defense and

the Secretary of Energy shall announce any winning

proposals identified through solicitations described in

subsection (e) of this section. In selecting any

winning proposals, the Secretary of Defense and the

Secretary of Energy shall, in consultation with each

other, assign winners the opportunity to apply for any

Federal permits needed to build and operate frontier AI

infrastructure pursuant to the frameworks described in

subsection (h) of this section on any sites included in

the solicitations issued under subsection (e) of this

section, as the Secretaries deem appropriate. The

Secretaries shall consult with the Attorney General on

the implications of selections on the competition and

market-structure characteristics of the broader AI

ecosystem. The Chair of the Federal Trade Commission is

encouraged to participate in these consultations

section, as the Secretaries deem appropriate. The

Secretaries shall consult with the Attorney General on

the implications of selections on the competition and

market-structure characteristics of the broader AI

ecosystem. The Chair of the Federal Trade Commission is

encouraged to participate in these consultations. The

Secretaries shall, to the extent consistent with

applicable law and to the extent that the Secretaries

assess that the requirement promotes national defense,

national security, or the public interest, as

appropriate, select at least one proposal developed and

submitted jointly by a consortium of two or more small-

or medium-sized organizations--as determined by those

organizations' market capitalization, revenues, or

similar characteristics--provided that the Secretaries

receive at least one such proposal that meets the

appropriate qualifications. The Secretaries shall

provide technical assistance, as appropriate, to small-

or medium-sized organizations seeking to submit

proposals. The criteria for selecting winning proposals

shall include, at a minimum, consideration of the

following characteristics of the applicants and any

identified partner organizations, to the extent

consistent with applicable law and to the extent that

the Secretaries agree that the listed characteristics

promote national defense, national security, or the

public interest, as appropriate:

f the

following characteristics of the applicants and any

identified partner organizations, to the extent

consistent with applicable law and to the extent that

the Secretaries agree that the listed characteristics

promote national defense, national security, or the

public interest, as appropriate:

(i) proposed financing mechanisms and sources of funds secured or likely to

be secured for work to be performed at the site;

(ii) plans for ensuring high-quality AI training operations to be executed

at the site by the applicant or third-party partners;

(iii) plans for maximizing energy, water, and other resource efficiency,

including waste-heat utilization in constructing and operating the AI data

center at the site, the strength of the proposed energy master plan for the

site, and the quality of analysis of potential strains on local

communities;

(iv) safety and security measures, including cybersecurity measures,

proposed to be implemented at the site, and capabilities for such

implementation;

(v) capabilities and acumen of applicable AI scientists, engineers, and

other workforce essential to the operation of AI infrastructure;

[[Page 5476]]

(vi) plans for commercializing or otherwise deploying or advancing

deployment of appropriate intellectual property, including AI model

weights, developed at the site, as well as plans for commercializing or

otherwise deploying or advancing deployment of innovations related to power

generation and transmission infrastructure developed in the course of

building or operating AI infrastructure;

(vii) plans to help ensure that the construction and operation of AI

infrastructure does not increase electricity costs to other ratepayers or

water costs to consumers, including, as appropriate, through appropriate

proposed or recommended future engagement with any applicable regulatory

authorities and State, Tribal, or local governments;

e course of

building or operating AI infrastructure;

(vii) plans to help ensure that the construction and operation of AI

infrastructure does not increase electricity costs to other ratepayers or

water costs to consumers, including, as appropriate, through appropriate

proposed or recommended future engagement with any applicable regulatory

authorities and State, Tribal, or local governments;

(viii) plans to use high labor standards that help ensure continuous and

high-quality work performed on the site, such as paying prevailing wages;

hiring registered apprentices; promoting positive labor-management

relations through a project labor agreement; and otherwise adopting high

job quality and labor standards for the construction and operations

workforce as set forth in Executive Order 14126 of September 6, 2024

(Investing in America and Investing in American Workers), and a plan to

address labor-related risks associated with the development and use of AI;

(ix) design features and operational controls and plans that mitigate

potential environmental effects and implement strong community health,

public safety, and environmental protection measures;

(x) other benefits to the community and electric grid infrastructure

surrounding the site;

(xi) experience completing comparable construction projects;

(xii) experience in compliance with Federal, State, and local permits and

environmental reviews relevant to construction and operation of AI

infrastructure or, in the alternative, other evidence of an ability to

obtain and comply with such permits or reviews in an efficient manner;

(xiii) the presence of organizational and management structures to help

ensure sound governance of work performed at the site;

(xiv) the effect of the selection of an applicant on the emergence of an

interoperable, competitive AI ecosystem;

ation of AI

infrastructure or, in the alternative, other evidence of an ability to

obtain and comply with such permits or reviews in an efficient manner;

(xiii) the presence of organizational and management structures to help

ensure sound governance of work performed at the site;

(xiv) the effect of the selection of an applicant on the emergence of an

interoperable, competitive AI ecosystem;

(xv) whether an applicant has already been assigned an opportunity, or is

being assigned another opportunity, to build a frontier AI data center on a

Federal site through the solicitation process described in this section;

and

(xvi) other considerations of national defense, national security, or the

public interest, including economic security, as the Secretary of Defense

and the Secretary of Energy deem appropriate.

(h) By June 30, 2025, the Secretary of Defense and

the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the

Secretary of the Interior, shall each develop a

framework through which any winning applicants selected

under subsection (g) of this section may apply to lease

sites respectively identified under subsection (a) of

this section, and cleared under subsection (d) of this

section, to construct and operate AI infrastructure,

and by which the applicants may own the AI

infrastructure facilities on those sites, subject to

the conditions described in subsections (i)-(x) of this

subsection

ied under subsection (a) of

this section, and cleared under subsection (d) of this

section, to construct and operate AI infrastructure,

and by which the applicants may own the AI

infrastructure facilities on those sites, subject to

the conditions described in subsections (i)-(x) of this

subsection. To the extent that the Secretaries assess

that it is consistent with national defense, national

security, or the public interest, as appropriate, these

frameworks shall allow for winning applicants to

cooperate with other appropriate private-sector

entities on construction and operation activities,

including through contracting and subcontracting

relationships, and the frameworks shall not require

that parties proposing to own AI infrastructure be

identical to those proposing to operate the

infrastructure or perform work at the sites on which

the infrastructure is located. Actions taken by Federal

entities pursuant to the frameworks shall conform to

any applicable requirements of Appendix B of Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-

[[Page 5477]]

11 and any other appropriate budget-scoring practices;

applicable in-kind consideration shall be taken into

account in calculating the cost to lessees of any such

leases. As part of the foregoing work, the Secretary of

Defense and the Secretary of Energy shall, to the

extent consistent with their respective authorities and

with national defense, national security, or the public

interest, as appropriate, require lease or contract

terms that accomplish the following:

leases. As part of the foregoing work, the Secretary of

Defense and the Secretary of Energy shall, to the

extent consistent with their respective authorities and

with national defense, national security, or the public

interest, as appropriate, require lease or contract

terms that accomplish the following:

(i) establish a target of the applicant's beginning construction of a

frontier AI data center by January 1, 2026, and commencing full-capacity

operation of the AI infrastructure by December 31, 2027, subject to

fulfillment of relevant statutory and regulatory requirements, and in a

manner consistent with opportunities to operate the infrastructure at or

below full capacity at an earlier date;

(ii) require that, concurrent with operating a frontier AI data center on a

Federal site, non-Federal parties constructing, owning, or operating AI

infrastructure have procured sufficient new clean power generation

resources with capacity value to meet the frontier AI data center's planned

electricity needs, including by providing power that matches the data

center's timing of electricity use on an hourly basis and is deliverable to

the data center;

(iii) clarify that non-Federal parties bear all responsibility for paying

any costs that parties to the frameworks described in subsection (h) of

this section, as well as transmission providers or transmission

organizations or other entities not party to the contract, incur from work

pursuant to it, including costs of work performed by agencies to complete

necessary environmental reviews, any costs related to the procurement of

clean power generation resources and capacity in accordance with subsection

s described in subsection (h) of

this section, as well as transmission providers or transmission

organizations or other entities not party to the contract, incur from work

pursuant to it, including costs of work performed by agencies to complete

necessary environmental reviews, any costs related to the procurement of

clean power generation resources and capacity in accordance with subsection

(g)(ii) of this section, any costs of decommissioning AI infrastructure on

Federal sites, any costs of developing transmission infrastructure needed

to serve a frontier AI data center on a Federal site, and the fair market

value of leasing and using applicable Federal lands;

(iv) require adherence to technical standards and guidelines for cyber,

supply-chain, and physical security for protecting and controlling any

facilities, equipment, devices, systems, data, and other property,

including AI model weights, that are developed, acquired, modified, used,

or stored at the site or in the course of work performed on the site. The

Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of the National

Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Director of the AI

Safety Institute (AISI) at NIST, in consultation with the Secretary of

Defense, the Secretary of Energy, and the Director of National

Intelligence, shall identify available standards and guidelines to which

adherence shall be required under this subsection. The identified standards

should reflect and incorporate guidelines and best practices developed by

the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, pursuant to

Executive Order 14028 of May 12, 2021 (Enhancing United States

Cybersecurity), and Executive Order 14110 of November 1, 2023 (Safe,

Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence)

this subsection. The identified standards

should reflect and incorporate guidelines and best practices developed by

the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of NIST, pursuant to

Executive Order 14028 of May 12, 2021 (Enhancing United States

Cybersecurity), and Executive Order 14110 of November 1, 2023 (Safe,

Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence).

The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director of AISI at NIST,

shall support the ongoing improvement of the framework described in this

subsection by developing security guidelines for frontier AI training and

operation and, as part of this work, shall comprehensively evaluate the

security implications of publicly available AI models that the Secretary of

Commerce, acting through the Director of AISI at NIST, deems globally

significant;

(v) require that non-Federal parties owning or operating frontier AI data

centers sign a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Commerce,

acting through the Director of AISI at NIST, to facilitate collaborative

research and evaluations on AI models developed, acquired, modified, run,

or stored at the site or in the course of work performed on the site, for

the purpose of assessing the national-security or other significant risks

of those models;

[[Page 5478]]

(vi) require non-Federal parties to report information about investments or

financial capital from any person used or involved in the development

(including construction), ownership, or operation of AI infrastructure on

the site and in the development, operation, or use of AI models operating

in such AI infrastructure, as appropriate to evaluate risks to national

security; and require non-Federal parties to limit the involvement in any

such activities of, or the use or involvement in any such activities of

investments or financial capital from, any person whom the Secretaries of

Defense or Energy deem appropriate on national security grounds;

eration, or use of AI models operating

in such AI infrastructure, as appropriate to evaluate risks to national

security; and require non-Federal parties to limit the involvement in any

such activities of, or the use or involvement in any such activities of

investments or financial capital from, any person whom the Secretaries of

Defense or Energy deem appropriate on national security grounds;

(vii) require non-Federal parties owning or operating AI data centers on

Federal sites to take appropriate steps to advance the objective of

harnessing AI, with appropriate safeguards, for purposes of national

security, military preparedness, and intelligence operations, including

with respect to the objectives and work outlined in NSM-25. Such steps

shall, as consistent with applicable legal authorities, include

collaborating with the Federal Government on regularly recurring

assessments of the national-security implications of AI models developed on

Federal sites, as appropriate. In addition, as appropriate and consistent

with any relevant Federal procurement laws and regulations, the non-Federal

parties shall be required to commit to providing access to such models, and

critical resources derivative of such models, to the Federal Government for

national-security applications at terms at least no less favorable than

current market rates, consistent with NSM-25 and the associated Framework

to Advance AI Governance and Risk Management in National Security. To the

extent feasible, AI models and resources derived from them shall be

developed and provided to the Federal Government in a manner that prevents

vendor lock-in and supports interoperability, including as consistent with

the measures in section 5 of OMB Memorandum M-24-18;

onsistent with NSM-25 and the associated Framework

to Advance AI Governance and Risk Management in National Security. To the

extent feasible, AI models and resources derived from them shall be

developed and provided to the Federal Government in a manner that prevents

vendor lock-in and supports interoperability, including as consistent with

the measures in section 5 of OMB Memorandum M-24-18;

(viii) require that non-Federal parties owning or operating frontier AI

data centers on Federal sites develop plans to make available computational

resources that are not dedicated to supporting frontier AI training, or

otherwise allocated under another provision, for commercial use by startups

and small firms on nondiscriminatory terms and in a manner that minimizes

barriers to interoperability, entry, or exit for users;

(ix) require non-Federal parties owning or operating AI infrastructure on

Federal sites to explore the availability of clean energy resources--such

as geothermal power generation resources and thermal storage, long-duration

storage paired with clean energy, and carbon capture and sequestration as

described in section 3(e) of this order, as well as beneficial uses of

waste heat--at any appropriate sites that those parties lease for purposes

of constructing frontier AI data centers on Federal sites or procuring

power generation capacity to serve these data centers; and

(x) require AI developers owning and operating frontier AI data centers on

Federal sites either to procure, for use in the development of their data

centers, an appropriate share (as measured by monetary value) of leading-

edge logic semiconductors fabricated in the United States to the maximum

extent practicable; or to develop and implement a plan, subject to the

respective approval of the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Energy,

to qualify leading-edge logic semiconductors fabricated in the United

States for use in the developer's data centers as soon as practicable

sured by monetary value) of leading-

edge logic semiconductors fabricated in the United States to the maximum

extent practicable; or to develop and implement a plan, subject to the

respective approval of the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Energy,

to qualify leading-edge logic semiconductors fabricated in the United

States for use in the developer's data centers as soon as practicable. The

Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy shall develop any such

requirements--including any determinations about amounts of leading-edge

logic semiconductors that may be considered ``appropriate''--in

consultation with the Secretary of Commerce.

(i) Within 1 year of the date of this order and

consistent with applicable law, the Secretary of

Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of

Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of

Homeland Security, the Director of National

Intelligence, and the Assistant to the President for

National Security Affairs, shall issue regulations that

prescribe heightened safeguards to protect computing

hardware acquired, developed, stored, or

[[Page 5479]]

used on any sites on which frontier AI infrastructure

is located and that are managed by the Department of

Defense, as needed to implement or build upon the

objectives of, or the requirements established pursuant

to, subsection 4(g)(iv). The regulations shall include

requirements to conform with appropriate high-impact

level standards identified through the Federal Risk and

Authorization Management Program, and they shall

further provide for appropriate penalties consistent

with applicable authorities

uant

to, subsection 4(g)(iv). The regulations shall include

requirements to conform with appropriate high-impact

level standards identified through the Federal Risk and

Authorization Management Program, and they shall

further provide for appropriate penalties consistent

with applicable authorities. No less than annually the

Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the

aforementioned individuals, shall review the need for

updates to the regulations, and promulgate any

necessary revisions. The Secretary of Energy shall

impose substantively the same requirements with respect

to frontier AI infrastructure on sites managed by the

Department of Energy, to the extent authorized by law.

(j) To enable the use--for advancing geothermal

power development, including the development of thermal

storage--of Federal lands already subject to leases:

(i) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the

Interior shall establish a program with personnel dedicated to providing

technical assistance for, streamlining, and otherwise advancing direct-use

leasing of geothermal projects on BLM lands, including as consistent with

the policies set forth in 43 C.F.R. subpart 3205, and leases of geothermal

projects on lands subject to mining claims or under an oil and gas lease.

(ii) When issuing leases and related authorizations for geothermal

projects, the Secretary of the Interior shall consider the extent to which

the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C.

4321 et seq., the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., and other

appropriate statutes have been satisfied by prior analyses of the lease

area.

an oil and gas lease.

(ii) When issuing leases and related authorizations for geothermal

projects, the Secretary of the Interior shall consider the extent to which

the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C.

4321 et seq., the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., and other

appropriate statutes have been satisfied by prior analyses of the lease

area.

(k) In performing the work described in section 4

of this order, including as related to the selection

and management of sites, the head of each respective

Federal agency shall:

(i) consult, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, Executive

Order 13175 of November 6, 2000 (Consultation and Coordination with Indian

Tribal Governments), and the Presidential Memorandum of November 30, 2022

(Uniform Standards for Tribal Consultation), with Tribal Nations for which

such work may have implications or who otherwise request such consultation;

(ii) seek input from, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law and

Administration policies, with State and local governments and other

stakeholders and communities for which such work may have implications; and

(iii) consider taking actions that present the greatest opportunities to

support the goals described in Safely and Responsibly Expanding U.S.

Nuclear Energy: Deployment Targets and A Framework for Action (November

2024).

Sec. 5. Protecting American Consumers and Communities.

cal governments and other

stakeholders and communities for which such work may have implications; and

(iii) consider taking actions that present the greatest opportunities to

support the goals described in Safely and Responsibly Expanding U.S.

Nuclear Energy: Deployment Targets and A Framework for Action (November

2024).

Sec. 5. Protecting American Consumers and Communities.

(a) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the

Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Chair of

the Council of Economic Advisors and the heads of other

agencies that the Secretary deems appropriate, shall

submit a report to the President on the potential

effects of AI data centers on electricity prices for

consumers and businesses. This report shall include

electricity-rate-structure best practices for

appropriate Federal agencies, State regulators, and

transmission providers and transmission organizations

to promote procurement of clean energy generation

resources as components of AI infrastructure without

increasing costs for other customers through cost-

allocation processes or other mechanisms--particularly

in regions that have or are expected to have high

concentrations of AI infrastructure--as well as

regional analyses of key data center hubs. The report

shall further account for any existing approaches

developed by Federal agencies to engage transmission

providers and State regulators regarding electricity

prices. After submitting the report, the Secretary of

Energy shall engage appropriate private-sector

[[Page 5480]]

nalyses of key data center hubs. The report

shall further account for any existing approaches

developed by Federal agencies to engage transmission

providers and State regulators regarding electricity

prices. After submitting the report, the Secretary of

Energy shall engage appropriate private-sector

[[Page 5480]]

entities, to include the winning applicants selected

under subsection 4(g) of this order, on the report's

findings and recommendations.

(b) The Secretary of Energy shall provide technical

assistance to State public utility commissions to

consider rate structures, including clean transition

tariffs and any other appropriate structures identified

under subsection (a) of this section, to enable new AI

infrastructure to use clean energy without causing

unnecessary increases in electricity or water prices.

(c) The Secretary of Energy and the heads of other

appropriate agencies as the Secretary of Energy deems

appropriate, shall coordinate to expand research-and-

development efforts related to AI data center

efficiency. Supported research and development shall

cover, as appropriate, efficiency considerations

associated with data center buildings, including the

data center shell; electrical systems; heating,

ventilation, and cooling infrastructure; software; and

beneficial use cases for wastewater heat from data

center operations

ch and development shall

cover, as appropriate, efficiency considerations

associated with data center buildings, including the

data center shell; electrical systems; heating,

ventilation, and cooling infrastructure; software; and

beneficial use cases for wastewater heat from data

center operations. As part of this work, the Secretary

of Commerce and the Secretary of Energy shall submit a

report to the President identifying appropriate ways

that agencies can advance industry-wide data center

energy efficiency through research and development,

including server consolidation; hardware efficiency;

virtualization; optimized cooling and airflow

management; and power management, monitoring, and

capacity planning.

(d) In implementing this order with respect to AI

infrastructure on Federal sites, the heads of relevant

agencies shall prioritize taking appropriate measures

to keep electricity costs low for households,

consumers, and businesses.

(e) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the

Director of OMB, in consultation with the Chair of the

Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), shall evaluate

best practices for public participation and

governmental engagement in the development of potential

siting and energy-related infrastructure for data

centers, to include practices for seeking input on

potential health, safety, and environmental impacts and

mitigation measures for nearby communities

best practices for public participation and

governmental engagement in the development of potential

siting and energy-related infrastructure for data

centers, to include practices for seeking input on

potential health, safety, and environmental impacts and

mitigation measures for nearby communities. The

Director shall present recommendations to the Secretary

of Defense and the Secretary of Energy, who shall--as

feasible and appropriate, and to advance the goals of

assuring effective governmental engagement and

meaningful public participation--implement and

incorporate these recommendations into their siting and

related decision-making processes regarding AI

infrastructure.

Sec. 6. Facilitating Electric Grid Interconnections for

Federal Sites. (a) Within 60 days of the date of this

order, for the purpose of supporting any winning

applicants of the solicitations described in subsection

4(e) of this order, the Secretary of Energy shall

establish requirements for transmission providers and

transmission organizations to report to the Secretary

information regarding surplus interconnection service;

available transmission capacity for interconnecting

generators; opportunities for clean repowering; and

proposed, planned, or initiated projects to build clean

power generation capacity for which construction is not

complete, but which have executed generation

interconnection agreements

n service;

available transmission capacity for interconnecting

generators; opportunities for clean repowering; and

proposed, planned, or initiated projects to build clean

power generation capacity for which construction is not

complete, but which have executed generation

interconnection agreements. Information requested

regarding these proposed, planned, or initiated

projects shall include the size, location, and

generation technology for each such clean power

generation project, as well as the status and estimated

cost of any transmission upgrades necessary to enable

that project's interconnection consistent with the

interconnection agreement. The Secretary shall

facilitate communication, as appropriate, among the

owners of such surplus interconnection service,

facilities with opportunities for clean repowering, or

clean power generator projects and winning applicants

to the solicitations described in subsection 4(e) of

this order. The Secretary shall further establish

appropriate requirements for transmission providers and

transmission organizations to continue reporting

information described in this subsection on an ongoing

basis, and in any event no less than annually.

to the solicitations described in subsection 4(e) of

this order. The Secretary shall further establish

appropriate requirements for transmission providers and

transmission organizations to continue reporting

information described in this subsection on an ongoing

basis, and in any event no less than annually.

(b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the

Secretary of Energy shall identify and communicate, as

appropriate, a prioritized list of underutilized points

of interconnection that are relevant to AI

infrastructure on Federal sites and that demonstrate

the highest potential for uses associated

[[Page 5481]]

with AI infrastructure. In developing this list, the

Secretary shall direct transmission providers and

transmission organizations to identify areas of the

transmission network best suited to serve as points of

interconnection for either data centers or other AI

infrastructure that will use electricity from the

transmission system--and locations best suited for

interconnection of clean generators to serve such data

centers--considering criteria such as minimizing the

need for transmission upgrades necessary to accommodate

such interconnection and access to clean energy

generation resources.

city from the

transmission system--and locations best suited for

interconnection of clean generators to serve such data

centers--considering criteria such as minimizing the

need for transmission upgrades necessary to accommodate

such interconnection and access to clean energy

generation resources.

(c) By June 30, 2025, the Secretary of Energy, in

coordination with the Secretary of Defense and in

consultation, as appropriate, with the Secretary of the

Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, shall engage

with transmission providers and transmission

organizations owning, operating, or maintaining

transmission infrastructure located near Federal sites

selected for AI infrastructure to identify any grid

upgrades, deployment of advanced transmission

technologies such as high-performance conductors or

grid-enhancing technologies, operational changes, or

other steps expected to be required for extending

interconnection services to AI infrastructure by the

end of 2027. Such engagements shall continue as the

parties deem appropriate, and they shall prioritize, as

appropriate, efforts to enable use of surplus

interconnection services, clean repowering, and other

methods of accelerated shifts toward clean power and

beneficial use of waste heat. The engagements shall

also include consideration of ways that the performance

of such work as described in this subsection can most

contribute to lower regional electricity prices.

terconnection services, clean repowering, and other

methods of accelerated shifts toward clean power and

beneficial use of waste heat. The engagements shall

also include consideration of ways that the performance

of such work as described in this subsection can most

contribute to lower regional electricity prices.

(d) The Secretary of Energy shall conduct an

analysis of currently available transmission

infrastructure serving potential sites, and the likely

cost and feasibility of, and timeline for, developing

additional such infrastructure needed for constructing

and operating a frontier AI data center on sites

identified under subsection 4(a) of this order, and

cleared under subsection 4(d) of this order, including

by providing the frontier AI data center with clean

energy and capacity. The Secretary shall identify and

collect from transmission providers and transmission

organizations information that the Secretary deems

necessary for the analysis required under this

subsection. The Secretary shall, as appropriate, treat

such information as critical electric infrastructure

information.

cretary shall identify and

collect from transmission providers and transmission

organizations information that the Secretary deems

necessary for the analysis required under this

subsection. The Secretary shall, as appropriate, treat

such information as critical electric infrastructure

information.

Sec. 7. Expeditiously Processing Permits for Federal

Sites. (a) The heads of Federal Permitting Agencies

shall prioritize work and exercise all applicable

authorities, as appropriate, to expedite the processing

of permits and approvals required for the construction

and operation of AI infrastructure on Federal sites,

with the goal of issuing all permits and approvals

required for construction by the end of 2025 or as soon

as they can be completed consistent with applicable

law. As part of this work, the Permitting Council may

provide coordination of permitting for AI

infrastructure on Federal sites, as appropriate and to

the extent that the relevant developers of AI

infrastructure submit a notice of the initiation of a

proposed covered project under 42 U.S.C. 4370m-2 and

the project is determined to be such a covered project

by the Permitting Council.

(b) To facilitate expeditious implementation of the

requirements under NEPA with respect to Federal sites:

infrastructure submit a notice of the initiation of a

proposed covered project under 42 U.S.C. 4370m-2 and

the project is determined to be such a covered project

by the Permitting Council.

(b) To facilitate expeditious implementation of the

requirements under NEPA with respect to Federal sites:

(i) The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and the

Secretary of Energy shall identify, within their respective agencies,

personnel dedicated to performing NEPA reviews of projects to construct and

operate AI infrastructure on Federal sites.

(ii) The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of the

Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, and the

Secretary of Energy, shall undertake a programmatic environmental review,

on a thematic basis, of the environmental effects--and opportunities to

mitigate those effects--involved with the construction and operation of AI

data centers, as well as of other components of AI infrastructure as the

Secretary of Defense deems appropriate. The review shall conclude, with all

appropriate documents published, on the date of the close of

[[Page 5482]]

the solicitations described in subsection 4(e) of this order, or as soon

thereafter as possible. The review shall, as applicable, incorporate by

reference previously developed environmental studies, surveys, and impact

analyses, including the analysis described in subsection 4(b)(ii) of this

order.

conclude, with all

appropriate documents published, on the date of the close of

[[Page 5482]]

the solicitations described in subsection 4(e) of this order, or as soon

thereafter as possible. The review shall, as applicable, incorporate by

reference previously developed environmental studies, surveys, and impact

analyses, including the analysis described in subsection 4(b)(ii) of this

order.

(iii) After the conclusion of the programmatic review described in

subsection (b)(ii) of this section, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary

of the Interior, the Secretary of Energy, and the heads of other relevant

agencies, as appropriate, shall commence any further environmental reviews

that are required under NEPA for the construction and operation of AI

infrastructure on Federal sites, including by applying any available

categorical exclusions. Such reviews shall, as appropriate, build on or

incorporate by reference the programmatic environmental review conducted

under subsection (b)(ii) of this section, as well as any other studies,

surveys, and impact analyses that the Secretaries deem appropriate.

(c) To advance expeditious preconstruction

permitting and ensure full compliance with air-quality

permit requirements for AI infrastructure, the

Administrator of the EPA, in consultation with the

Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy,

shall:

es that the Secretaries deem appropriate.

(c) To advance expeditious preconstruction

permitting and ensure full compliance with air-quality

permit requirements for AI infrastructure, the

Administrator of the EPA, in consultation with the

Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy,

shall:

(i) within 30 days of the selection of winning applications under

subsection 4(g) of this order, engage State and local permitting

authorities with jurisdiction over sites selected for AI infrastructure, as

appropriate, to enhance relevant authorities' understanding of the

technical characteristics of AI infrastructure projects as relevant to new

source reviews under the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq., and to

enhance the public's understanding of the same, as well as to facilitate

the acquisition of information by AI developers operating on Federal sites

regarding best practices for expeditiously obtaining air-quality permits;

(ii) continue engagements with State and local permitting authorities, and

provide technical assistance to AI developers operating on Federal sites,

on an ongoing basis and as appropriate, to help advance expeditious

conclusion of, and compliance with, new source reviews; and

(iii) following the acquisition of all preconstruction air-quality permits

by developers, take steps to ensure, on an ongoing basis and as

appropriate, that AI developers operating on Federal sites adhere to all

requirements of operational air-quality permits applicable to their

respective projects; that information needed to demonstrate compliance,

possibly including air-monitoring data, is made publicly available and

regularly updated; and that best practices are identified for air-emissions

reduction and air-quality monitoring regarding AI infrastructure on Federal

sites.

eral sites adhere to all

requirements of operational air-quality permits applicable to their

respective projects; that information needed to demonstrate compliance,

possibly including air-monitoring data, is made publicly available and

regularly updated; and that best practices are identified for air-emissions

reduction and air-quality monitoring regarding AI infrastructure on Federal

sites.

(d) To help ensure expeditious permitting or

permission processes related to waters of the United

States and harbor and river improvements, the Secretary

of Defense shall prioritize work, as appropriate, to

process applications for permits administered by the

United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) under the

Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq., and to process

applications for permission for appropriate projects

under section 14 of the Act of March 3, 1899 (33 U.S.C.

408), as consistent with the statutes' requirements, in

order to render determinations on any such permits or

permissions associated with AI infrastructure on

Federal sites by the end of 2025, or as soon as

feasible consistent with statutory requirements. The

Secretary shall, consistent with applicable law,

prioritize allocation of resources toward USACE

district offices, and direct the allocation of

resources within such offices, as needed to comply with

this directive. The Secretary shall further apply all

general permits applicable to AI infrastructure where

appropriate to promote expeditious permitting on such

Federal sites.

urces toward USACE

district offices, and direct the allocation of

resources within such offices, as needed to comply with

this directive. The Secretary shall further apply all

general permits applicable to AI infrastructure where

appropriate to promote expeditious permitting on such

Federal sites.

(e) Within 30 days of the selection of any winning

applications under subsection 4(g) of this order, the

Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy shall

initiate Tribal consultations as applicable and

appropriate based on the sites selected. Upon receipt

of sufficient project information, the Secretary of

Defense and the Secretary of Energy shall further

initiate

[[Page 5483]]

consultations with the Secretary of the Interior,

acting through the Director of the United States Fish

and Wildlife Service (USFWS), to ensure that the

construction and operation of AI infrastructure on each

site that is identified under subsection 4(a) of this

order, cleared under subsection 4(d) of this order, and

subsequently chosen as the location for the

construction and operation of AI infrastructure

pursuant to a winning application under subsection 4(g)

of this order are not likely to jeopardize the

continued existence of any endangered species or

threatened species or result in the destruction or

adverse modification of a critical habitat of such

species

n and operation of AI infrastructure

pursuant to a winning application under subsection 4(g)

of this order are not likely to jeopardize the

continued existence of any endangered species or

threatened species or result in the destruction or

adverse modification of a critical habitat of such

species. The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of

Energy shall conclude such consultations with USFWS, to

the maximum extent practicable, within 90 days of the

initiation of such consultations when feasible and

consistent with statutory requirements.

(f) To advance the development of geothermal energy

production and thermal storage, including in support of

AI infrastructure on Federal sites:

(i) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior

shall undertake a programmatic environmental review, on a thematic basis,

of the environmental impacts and associated mitigations involved with the

construction and operation of a geothermal power plant.

(ii) By the date on which the review described in subsection (f)(i) of this

section is completed, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a

target cumulative capacity of permitted or operational geothermal projects

by a year that the Secretary shall designate.

f the environmental impacts and associated mitigations involved with the

construction and operation of a geothermal power plant.

(ii) By the date on which the review described in subsection (f)(i) of this

section is completed, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a

target cumulative capacity of permitted or operational geothermal projects

by a year that the Secretary shall designate.

(iii) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the

Interior shall assess existing categorical exclusions that are listed in

the NEPA procedures of other agencies and could apply to actions taken in

connection with geothermal energy development. The Secretary shall propose

adopting such categorical exclusions as the Secretary, after consultation

with the heads of agencies whose NEPA procedures list the categorical

exclusions, deems appropriate, and, after considering all comments received

through applicable public comment processes, take any actions to adopt

categorical exclusions that are appropriate given the received comments, as

consistent with the requirements of NEPA and 40 C.F.R. parts 1500-1508. The

Secretary shall prioritize the expeditious permitting of geothermal

projects, including the application of any appropriate categorical

exclusions adopted under this subsection, on PGZs. The Secretary shall

prioritize work to expeditiously permit geothermal projects on PGZs above

the work described in subsection (f)(i) of this section.

(iv) When issuing leases and related authorizations for geothermal projects

on PGZs, the Secretary of the Interior shall fulfill the requirements of

NEPA and the Endangered Species Act in a manner that allows for the

earliest possible operation of geothermal power plants consistent with

applicable law.

geothermal projects on PGZs above

the work described in subsection (f)(i) of this section.

(iv) When issuing leases and related authorizations for geothermal projects

on PGZs, the Secretary of the Interior shall fulfill the requirements of

NEPA and the Endangered Species Act in a manner that allows for the

earliest possible operation of geothermal power plants consistent with

applicable law.

(v) The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and the

Secretary of Energy shall, as appropriate, coordinate to determine and

clarify appropriate procedures for the execution of leases or subleases for

developing or expanding clean energy generation resources, including

geothermal energy generation resources, on withdrawn lands subject to the

jurisdiction of the Department of Defense or the Department of Energy.

Sec. 8. Ensuring Adequate Transmission Infrastructure

for Federal Sites. (a) The Secretary of Energy, in

consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the

Secretary of the Interior, shall take steps to enable

AI infrastructure on Federal sites to have reliable

access to transmission facilities adequate for the

operation of frontier AI data centers by the end of

2027.

(b) To promote any needed upgrades and development

of transmission infrastructure that is located on or

that is necessary to support Federal sites with AI

infrastructure, the Secretary of Energy, in

consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, acting

through the Director of BLM and the Director of USFWS,

shall:

[[Page 5484]]

s and development

of transmission infrastructure that is located on or

that is necessary to support Federal sites with AI

infrastructure, the Secretary of Energy, in

consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, acting

through the Director of BLM and the Director of USFWS,

shall:

[[Page 5484]]

(i) by September 30, 2025, identify and initiate use of all appropriate

authorities to construct, finance, facilitate, and plan such upgrades and

development, including through the Transmission Infrastructure Program

administered by the Western Area Power Administration; and

(ii) prioritize the allocation of staff and resources for developing

transmission infrastructure needed to support AI infrastructure on Federal

sites--and in doing so, as appropriate, allocate relevant staff and

resources from any component within the Department of Energy for this

purpose--consistent with the requirements and objectives of this order and

applicable law.

(c) Because of the importance of frontier AI

infrastructure, including transmission capacity, to the

defense industrial base, critical infrastructure, and

military preparedness:

(i) The Secretary of Energy shall consider expected use of frontier AI data

centers on Federal sites as part of the Secretary's triennial study of

electric transmission capacity constraints and congestion under section

216(a)(1) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824p(a)(1)).

to the

defense industrial base, critical infrastructure, and

military preparedness:

(i) The Secretary of Energy shall consider expected use of frontier AI data

centers on Federal sites as part of the Secretary's triennial study of

electric transmission capacity constraints and congestion under section

216(a)(1) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824p(a)(1)).

(ii) Consistent with the requirements of section 216(a)(2) of the Federal

Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824p(a)(2)), and based on any findings made in future

studies of electric transmission capacity constraints and congestion as

described in subsection (c)(i) of this section, the Secretary shall

consider whether to designate geographic areas around frontier AI

infrastructure on Federal sites as national interest electric transmission

corridors.

(d) The Secretary of Energy shall, as appropriate,

help ensure that transmission facilities upgraded or

developed to support AI data centers on Federal sites:

(i) are designed to support all reasonably foreseeable electric loads,

including through the deployment of grid-enhancing technologies, high-

performance conductors, and other advanced transmission technologies,

including those described in the Department of Energy's Innovative Grid

Deployment Liftoff report, that will increase the capabilities of the

transmission facilities on a timely and cost-effective basis; and

(ii) conform to conductor efficiency standards or other technical standards

or criteria that the Secretary determines will optimize facilities'

performance and cost-effectiveness.

(e) To improve the timely availability of critical

grid equipment for frontier AI infrastructure, such as

electrical transformers, circuit breakers, switchgears,

and cables, and to protect electricity consumers from

exposure to rising equipment prices:

optimize facilities'

performance and cost-effectiveness.

(e) To improve the timely availability of critical

grid equipment for frontier AI infrastructure, such as

electrical transformers, circuit breakers, switchgears,

and cables, and to protect electricity consumers from

exposure to rising equipment prices:

(i) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense, the

Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Energy shall jointly consult

with domestic suppliers of such technologies on the expected needs of AI

infrastructure on Federal sites, suppliers' current production plans, and

opportunities for Government support in helping suppliers meet market

demands.

(ii) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Energy

shall facilitate industry-led convenings on transformers and other critical

grid components, which shall include appropriate representatives from

agencies, transmission providers and transmission organizations, domestic

suppliers of transformers, data center developers, and other private-sector

organizations. On an ongoing basis, the Secretary, after consulting with

participants in the industry-led convenings, shall:

(A) on at least an annual basis, develop and publish supply and demand

forecasts for transformers, including forecasts for different transformer

variants and analyses of supply and demand trends under different future

scenarios, which shall include scenarios for growth in electricity demand

from AI infrastructure and other sources of demand; and

[[Page 5485]]

industry-led convenings, shall:

(A) on at least an annual basis, develop and publish supply and demand

forecasts for transformers, including forecasts for different transformer

variants and analyses of supply and demand trends under different future

scenarios, which shall include scenarios for growth in electricity demand

from AI infrastructure and other sources of demand; and

[[Page 5485]]

(B) consider and, as appropriate, execute purchases of transformers and

other critical grid components in order to provide demand certainty for

domestic manufacturers to invest in capacity for meeting the needs of AI

infrastructure. Any decision to execute such purchases shall be based on

economic or other industry data, including the capacity utilization of

domestic suppliers of transformers or other components, that the Secretary

deems relevant to evaluating the status of the domestic industry. The

Secretary shall subsequently execute sales of any purchased transformers or

other critical grid components at times that the Secretary deems

appropriate based on such data.

(f) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the

Secretary of Energy shall establish requirements for

transmission providers and transmission organizations

to report to the Secretary transmission-related

information to assist in siting and accelerating the

interconnection of generation resources to serve

frontier AI data centers on sites identified under

section 4(a) of this order and cleared under subsection

4(d) of this order. Such information may include data

on transmission congestion to help identify where

additional transmission investments could enable the

development of additional transmission capacity to

serve such AI data centers.

under

section 4(a) of this order and cleared under subsection

4(d) of this order. Such information may include data

on transmission congestion to help identify where

additional transmission investments could enable the

development of additional transmission capacity to

serve such AI data centers.

(g) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the

heads of agencies that possess loan or loan-guarantee

authorities shall evaluate whether any such authorities

could be used to support the development of AI

infrastructure on Federal sites--including the

production of critical grid equipment as described in

subsection (e) of this section, or other actions to

strengthen the AI infrastructure supply chain. In cases

in which any authorities are available and appropriate

for this purpose, the heads of relevant agencies shall

provide that information to developers of AI

infrastructure on Federal sites or other appropriate

private-sector entities.

Sec. 9. Additional Efforts to Improve Permitting and

Power Procurement Nationwide. (a) The heads of Federal

Permitting Agencies shall designate, with respect to

each of their component agencies, dedicated staff to

handle all matters related to permits and approvals for

AI infrastructure. Such designations shall include

personnel dedicated to coordinating with and addressing

the needs of applicants for permits under the

respective agency's purview

spect to

each of their component agencies, dedicated staff to

handle all matters related to permits and approvals for

AI infrastructure. Such designations shall include

personnel dedicated to coordinating with and addressing

the needs of applicants for permits under the

respective agency's purview. In designating such

personnel, the heads of Federal Permitting Agencies

shall, as appropriate, implement staffing arrangements

and other mechanisms that accelerate permitting for AI

infrastructure to the maximum extent possible.

(b) To improve review practices pursuant to NEPA:

(i) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the heads of Federal

Permitting Agencies, in coordination with the Chair of CEQ, shall assess

existing categorical exclusions and identify opportunities to establish new

categorical exclusions to support AI infrastructure on Federal sites,

consistent with the requirements of NEPA and 40 C.F.R. parts 1500-1508. The

heads of agencies whose NEPA regulations include categorical exclusions

related to fiber-optic cables are encouraged, in undertaking these

assessments, to evaluate whether such categorical exclusions may be applied

to the development of fiber-optic cables as used for AI infrastructure.

(ii) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the heads of Federal

Permitting Agencies shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable

law, propose any new categorical exclusions and, after considering all

comments received through applicable public comment processes, take any

actions to establish categorical exclusions that are appropriate given the

received comments.

infrastructure.

(ii) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the heads of Federal

Permitting Agencies shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable

law, propose any new categorical exclusions and, after considering all

comments received through applicable public comment processes, take any

actions to establish categorical exclusions that are appropriate given the

received comments.

(iii) Within 120 days of the date of this order, and consistent with the

directives described in section 7 of this order, the Secretary of Defense,

the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the

Secretary of Energy shall identify any existing categorical exclusions that

are listed in the NEPA procedures of other agencies and that are relevant

to the development of clean energy, electric transmission, or AI data

centers

[[Page 5486]]

and take any appropriate steps to adopt such categorical exclusions where

appropriate and consistent with the requirements of NEPA and 40 C.F.R.

parts 1500-1508. The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior,

the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Energy shall take any

appropriate steps to adopt and apply such categorical exclusions to AI

infrastructure on Federal sites where consistent with the requirements of

NEPA and 40 C.F.R. parts 1500-1508.

(c) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the

Secretary of Energy shall issue a request for

information on opportunities for accelerated

interconnection at existing power plants, including as

related to surplus interconnection service and clean

repowering. The request shall seek details on the

ownership of such plants with surplus interconnection

service and the plants' suitability for colocation of

new clean power generation resources with shared grid

access.

ower plants, including as

related to surplus interconnection service and clean

repowering. The request shall seek details on the

ownership of such plants with surplus interconnection

service and the plants' suitability for colocation of

new clean power generation resources with shared grid

access.

(d) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the

Secretary of Energy shall issue a request for

information from private-sector entities including

transmission providers, transmission organizations, and

clean energy developers regarding load interconnection

processes. The Secretary shall subsequently engage with

transmission providers and transmission organizations

regarding best practices to improve the transparency

and efficiency of such processes, including through

adopting new technologies, software, and procedures.

The Secretary shall provide technical assistance and

financial assistance to facilitate such adoption, as

appropriate. The Secretary shall publish a report

describing the results of this work within 1 year of

the date of this order.

(e) To promote the expeditious, responsible

development of nuclear power generation resources, the

Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy shall:

adoption, as

appropriate. The Secretary shall publish a report

describing the results of this work within 1 year of

the date of this order.

(e) To promote the expeditious, responsible

development of nuclear power generation resources, the

Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy shall:

(i) seek to facilitate the deployment of additional nuclear power and, as

relevant, supply-chain services on lands owned by, respectively, the

Department of Defense and the Department of Energy--including Department of

Defense installations and sites owned or managed by the Department of

Energy National Laboratories--by, as appropriate and consistent with

applicable law, identifying opportunities for such deployment on specific

lands to the extent such opportunities exist and, in the case of the

Secretary of Energy only, by evaluating whether financial support for such

deployment is appropriate;

(ii) within 180 days of the date of this order, coordinate to publish a

joint list of ten high-priority sites--or, if fewer than ten appropriate

sites exist, as many sites as possible--which may overlap with sites

identified and cleared under section 4 of this order, that are most

conducive to expeditious, safe, and responsible deployment of additional

nuclear power capacity readily available to serve AI data center

electricity demand by December 31, 2035, taking into account factors

including Federal, State, Tribal, and local ordinances; permitting and

other regulatory requirements; water access; climate resilience and

natural-hazard risks; and transmission and interconnection dynamics; and

s, safe, and responsible deployment of additional

nuclear power capacity readily available to serve AI data center

electricity demand by December 31, 2035, taking into account factors

including Federal, State, Tribal, and local ordinances; permitting and

other regulatory requirements; water access; climate resilience and

natural-hazard risks; and transmission and interconnection dynamics; and

(iii) within 1 year of the date of this order, publish either a joint plan

or their own respective plans describing how each Secretary will facilitate

deployment of additional nuclear power capacity as described in this

subsection on any such sites. Any such plan shall address selection of

appropriate nuclear reactor technologies; the licensing and permitting of

relevant technologies or facilities; the approach that each Secretary would

take to ensure the safe and responsible transportation of uranium and any

other radioactive material to the site; the approach that each Secretary

would take to ensure the safe and responsible storage or disposal of any

spent nuclear fuel; remediation of the site after the plant ceases

operation as needed; and any other steps necessary to ensure the deployment

will protect public health, safety, and the environment, consistent with

all applicable legal requirements and the principles of the document

[[Page 5487]]

entitled Safely and Responsibly Expanding U.S. Nuclear Energy: Deployment

Targets and a Framework for Action (November 2024); and

(iv) when carrying out actions under this subsection, comply with the

directives of section 4(k) of this order.

l protect public health, safety, and the environment, consistent with

all applicable legal requirements and the principles of the document

[[Page 5487]]

entitled Safely and Responsibly Expanding U.S. Nuclear Energy: Deployment

Targets and a Framework for Action (November 2024); and

(iv) when carrying out actions under this subsection, comply with the

directives of section 4(k) of this order.

(f) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the

Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the

Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, and the

White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience, shall

submit a report to the President on supply chain risks

applicable to the United States data center industry.

The report shall include analysis of supply chain risks

associated with the materials used to construct and

maintain data centers, the electronics necessary to

operate a data center, and emerging data center

technologies, as well as recommended steps for the

Federal Government to take to address identified risks.

The report shall also include analysis on supply chain

risks applicable to the generation and transmission

infrastructure needed to power AI data centers. On an

ongoing basis, as appropriate, the Secretary of

Commerce shall engage with the private sector to

identify emerging supply chain risks that have the

potential to undermine the success of the United States

AI infrastructure industry--with such success defined

to include the industry's commercialization of emerging

technologies--and to recommend policy solutions to

address identified risks.

r to

identify emerging supply chain risks that have the

potential to undermine the success of the United States

AI infrastructure industry--with such success defined

to include the industry's commercialization of emerging

technologies--and to recommend policy solutions to

address identified risks.

(g) Within 180 days of the date of this order, to

promote the expeditious, responsible development and

deployment of distributed energy solutions that support

the development and operation of AI infrastructure, the

Secretary of Energy shall develop model contracts for

using distributed energy resources (DERs) to increase

the local grid's capacity to support AI infrastructure.

In developing such contracts, the Secretary shall

consider options for cost-effective uses of DERs,

including distribution-sited generation resources,

energy storage assets, and opportunities for flexible

management of electricity demand. The model contracts

shall, as appropriate, include clauses providing for

the owners of data centers to finance costs incurred by

other entities in developing, installing, and operating

DERs, consistent with the objective of utilities

accounting for these financing activities when

processing data center owners' interconnection

applications.

include clauses providing for

the owners of data centers to finance costs incurred by

other entities in developing, installing, and operating

DERs, consistent with the objective of utilities

accounting for these financing activities when

processing data center owners' interconnection

applications.

(h) By July 31, 2025, the Permitting Council shall

engage with developers of AI infrastructure to advance

their understanding of resources available under title

41 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act

(Public Law 114-94) to accelerate permitting processes

and reviews for clean energy projects that are part of

AI infrastructure on Federal sites. As part of this

work, the Permitting Council, in consultation with the

White House Task Force on AI Datacenter Infrastructure

announced on October 29, 2024, shall endeavor to engage

small developers of AI infrastructure.

(i) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the

Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of

Engineers and Commanding General of the USACE, shall,

consistent with applicable law, assess existing

nationwide permits (NWPs) to determine how they may be

applied to facilitate the construction of AI data

centers and develop and publish a list of NWPs that

could facilitate such construction. The Secretary of

the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers and

Commanding General of the USACE, shall, as appropriate

and consistent with applicable law, subsequently

establish such new NWPs as expediently as possible.

centers and develop and publish a list of NWPs that

could facilitate such construction. The Secretary of

the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers and

Commanding General of the USACE, shall, as appropriate

and consistent with applicable law, subsequently

establish such new NWPs as expediently as possible.

(j) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the

Secretary of Energy shall release for public comment

draft reporting requirements for AI data centers

covering all phases of AI data centers' development and

operation--including material extraction, component

fabrication, transportation, construction, operation,

recycling, and retirement --regarding embodied

greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and excess heat

or energy expenditures, as distinct from operational

intensity of greenhouse gas emissions.

(k) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the

Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the

Administrator of the EPA and the Chair of CEQ,

[[Page 5488]]

shall establish a grand challenge, serving as a call to

voluntary action for appropriate private-sector and

other stakeholders, for the purpose of:

(k) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the

Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the

Administrator of the EPA and the Chair of CEQ,

[[Page 5488]]

shall establish a grand challenge, serving as a call to

voluntary action for appropriate private-sector and

other stakeholders, for the purpose of:

(i) setting targets for minimizing the power usage effectiveness ratio and

water usage effectiveness ratio of AI data centers, with a goal of bringing

the power usage effectiveness ratio of AI data centers on Federal sites

below 1.1;

(ii) promoting best practices for the beneficial use of waste heat and

other efforts to maximize efficiency;

(iii) promoting best practices for data center energy management and

sustainable design and operational practices for data centers that avoid or

reduce adverse effects on natural and cultural resources and communities,

and that protect public health and the environment;

(iv) raising AI developer and user awareness regarding the comparative

energy intensities of different computational tasks; and

(v) developing best practices and standards for software and algorithmic

efficiency.

Sec. 10. Engagement Abroad. (a) Within 90 days of the

date of this order, the Secretary of State, in

consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the

Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, the

Administrator of the United States Agency for

International Development, the Assistant to the

President for National Security Affairs, and the heads

of other relevant agencies as the Secretary of State

may deem appropriate, shall develop a plan for engaging

allies and partners on accelerating the buildout of

trusted AI infrastructure around the world

International Development, the Assistant to the

President for National Security Affairs, and the heads

of other relevant agencies as the Secretary of State

may deem appropriate, shall develop a plan for engaging

allies and partners on accelerating the buildout of

trusted AI infrastructure around the world. Such a plan

shall include measures to advance collaboration on the

global buildout of trusted AI infrastructure; mitigate

and prevent harms to local and affected communities;

engage the private sector and investor community to

identify and mitigate barriers to AI infrastructure

investments; support the deployment of commercially

available reliable clean power sources and the

development and commercialization of emerging clean

energy technologies, such as small modular nuclear

reactors; exchange best practices for permitting, power

procurement, and cultivating talent to build, operate,

and maintain trusted AI infrastructure; and strengthen

cyber, physical, and supply chain security safeguards

related to AI infrastructure. Within 1 year of the date

of this order, the Secretary of State shall submit to

the Assistant to the President for National Security

Affairs a report on actions taken pursuant to this

plan.

tructure; and strengthen

cyber, physical, and supply chain security safeguards

related to AI infrastructure. Within 1 year of the date

of this order, the Secretary of State shall submit to

the Assistant to the President for National Security

Affairs a report on actions taken pursuant to this

plan.

(b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the

Assistant to the President for National Security

Affairs shall convene heads of appropriate agencies, to

include the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the

Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of

Energy, the Chief Executive Officer of the United

States International Development Finance Corporation,

and the President of the Export-Import Bank of the

United States, to identify and implement actions to

facilitate United States exports and engagements abroad

related to advanced nuclear technologies and relevant

supply-chain services.

Sec. 11. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order

shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or

the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget

relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with

applicable law and subject to the availability of

appropriations.

[[Page 5489]]

d by law to an executive department or agency, or

the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget

relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with

applicable law and subject to the availability of

appropriations.

[[Page 5489]]

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not,

create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,

enforceable at law or in equity by any party against

the United States, its departments, agencies, or

entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any

other person.

(Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

January 14, 2025.

[FR Doc. 2025-01395

Filed 1-16-25; 8:45 am]

Billing code 3395-F4-P