Today, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on unleashing American energy production, including on federal lands, to power American technological innovation. Subcommittee Chairman Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) issued the following statement in response:

"As emerging technologies improve and demand for them grows, so does the need for reliable power sources to power them. To meet increasing demands, Republicans on the Committee on Natural Resources and President Trump have worked tirelessly to implement an all-of-the-above approach to energy development and production. 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."

Background

America is at the precipice of a new technological revolution, with innovations like artificial intelligence (AI), cryptocurrency and data centers spawning a revolution in technology and with it, a massive increase in energy demand. 

Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has recognized that the new age of technological innovation flourishing in the United States requires an immense and reliable power supply. On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 14156, “Declaring a National Emergency,” which directed agencies to establish a reliable, diverse and affordable energy supply, including on federal lands. That same day, President Trump also issued EOs 14154, “Unleashing American Energy” and 14153, “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential,” both of which look to unlock affordable and reliable domestic energy resources to solve our nation’s energy emergency. 

As energy demand experiences its highest growth rate in over two decades, largely due to an ongoing technological revolution, the need for reliable power will only increase. According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), over 8 gigawatts (GW) of coal power have been retired since 2023. In addition, NERC reports that an additional 83 GW of fossil-fired and nuclear generator retirements are anticipated by 2033, despite 35 GW of new power being required for data centers alone by 2030.

Cumbersome permitting processes that limit our ability to unleash the full potential of our resource wealth pose a key threat, providing an opportunity for nations like China to challenge our global leadership. However, America’s abundant natural resources have the ability to provide the baseload supply necessary to meet the growing power demand required for these innovations, which will benefit our economy and national security.