Fedorchak highlights urgent need to beat China in the AI race
Washington, D.C. – During a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) warned that China is rapidly outpacing the United States in AI development—backed by unmatched energy output. She questioned INCOMPAS CEO Chip Pickering about what steps the U.S. should take to lead in AI innovation and what challenges China may face in deploying the technology at scale.
Key exchange:
Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak: “AI has been described as not only a powerful tool, but an incredible weapon. And I don't feel like the public necessarily understands that or sees it exactly that way. But given that China today produces 10,000 terawatt hours of power a year and the U.S. produces 4,000 terawatt hours of power a year, we're already quite behind. I'm wondering: do you share this concern, Mr. Pickering, about China being in a better position? If so, what do we need to do about that? And then also, to comfort me and my colleagues, what barriers is China facing in their deployment of AI?”
Mr. Chip Pickering: “So for our country, as you look at what is powering the data centers that are running the large language models—intensive energy demand—I think new solutions that would bring behind-the-meter, dedicated energy to the data centers, is a critical reform that is needed to meet the demand needs today, that would not over-tax the existing grid and residential customers. So that's one solution.
“Two, as we've talked about the permitting reforms, in this committee and reconciliation, as something that addresses multi-state pipeline construction and being able to have a consolidated review and a time-certain review on that. As we look at traditional energy—meeting current demand—how can we also look at future options and solutions? SMR technology, fusion technology—those types of things that can give us clean energy, reliable, abundant energy, and a very small footprint that is much safer and much more sustainable. Getting those technologies as quickly as possible into the market. [...]
“And so those types of new solutions long-term, but in the short-term, building as fast as we can, an all-of-the-above strategy, and giving data centers the ability to have behind-the-meter solutions, or dedicated solutions, for the demand today. And no, China does not have barriers or impediments that we do.”
ICYMI: Fedorchak launched an AI and Energy Working Group to develop a legislative framework for powering the future of artificial intelligence (AI). Consequently, she issued a Request For Information (RFI) earlier this spring to gather input from stakeholders, which has received more than 100 responses. The group will focus on three key pillars core to Fedorchak’s policy priorities: American energy dominance, securing the grid, and outpacing China.
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