How the GOP bill could slow U.S. AI innovation 7/7/25

The recently signed US spending bill drastically cuts tax credits for renewable energy like solar, wind, and batteries, which are crucial for powering the AI industry's rapid growth.

Data centers already consume more electricity than some countries, with consumption expected to triple by 2030. This bill could stall or reverse the progress of clean energy growth, extend gas dependence, and possibly trigger a costly coal rebound.

Meanwhile, China is aggressively expanding all forms of energy capacity, from fossil fuels to renewables and storage, scaling its infrastructure to dominate the AI power race.

Tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft rely heavily on cheap, reliable clean energy for their AI development. Without it, costs soar and build-outs slow, threatening US leadership in AI.

Elon Musk has publicly criticized the bill as a "massive strategic error" that leaves America vulnerable in this critical infrastructure race.

• The new spending bill cuts renewable energy tax credits, slowing the cheapest power growth for AI data centers.
• This could make U.S. AI infrastructure buildout slower, dirtier, and more expensive compared to China's rapid energy capacity expansion.

• China's electricity generation nearly tripled since 2005 by building fossil, renewables, grid, and storage.
• The U.S. has flat electricity generation and this bill likely suppresses solar and wind growth, extending gas and possibly coal use.