OpenAI Urges U.S. to Build 100GW Annually

OpenAI told the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy that the U.S. must treat electricity as a strategic asset and commit to building 100 GW of new generation annually to close an “electron gap” with China, which added 429 GW in 2024 compared with the U.S.'s 51 GW. The submission frames grid expansion as a national-security and economic priority, warning that without urgent federal coordination rising energy costs and strained infrastructure could erode U.S. AI and industrial leadership. OpenAI cited its Stargate data-center program — six sites across Texas, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin — as an example of the vast power and workforce needs at stake. The letter urges accelerating transmission and generation using existing federal financing tools (DOE Loan Programs Office, USDA Rural Utilities Service, GRIP grants, Power Marketing Administrations), modernizing regulations (tighter FERC timelines, backstop siting authority) and fast-tracking permitting, even using AI to speed approvals. Coverage notes the proposal emphasizes regulatory and permitting reforms and AI adoption more than detailed construction plans.