Today, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations convened to discuss enhancing American energy production, particularly on federal lands, to support technological innovation. Subcommittee Chairman Paul Gosar emphasized the need for reliable power sources as demand for emerging technologies grows. He stated, “As emerging technologies improve and demand for them grows, so does the need for reliable power sources to power them.”
Gosar highlighted efforts by Republicans on the Committee on Natural Resources and former President Trump to implement a comprehensive approach to energy development. He said, “By unlocking our plentiful domestic energy resources, not only can we meet the growing power demands of emerging technologies, but we can also free ourselves from the constant threat of supply chain insecurities created by China under the Biden administration.”
The United States is experiencing a technological revolution with innovations such as artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and data centers driving an increase in energy demand. Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump recognized this trend and issued Executive Order 14156 declaring a national emergency to establish a reliable energy supply. Additionally, Executive Orders 14154 and 14153 aimed at unleashing American energy resources.
Energy demand has reached its highest growth rate in over two decades due to technological advancements. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation reported that over 8 gigawatts of coal power have been retired since 2023, with further retirements anticipated by 2033. Meanwhile, there is a projected requirement of 35 gigawatts of new power for data centers by 2030.
Permitting processes that restrict resource utilization pose challenges to America’s leadership position globally. However, America’s natural resources could provide the necessary baseload supply for increasing power demands which would benefit both the economy and national security.
