For a cleaner, more prosperous world, ACC mobilizes conservatives around environmental issues, fostering collaboration in the pursuit of environmental conservation.
The Hamm Institute facilitated collecting comments for Lee Zeldin on addressing AI energy demand, and we submitted the below recommendations:
What key idea or recommendation would you share with leaders shaping the future of AI and energy?
With electricity demand projected to grow nearly 16% by 2029, driven in part by AI and data centers, it will be crucial to unleash all forms of American energy—from natural gas, geothermal and nuclear to batteries and renewables. Currently, it takes an average of 4 years to permit projects requiring high-level environmental review, including most major energy and infrastructure projects.
To meet this challenge, the American Conservation Coalition (ACC) and our 75,000 young leaders across the country would like to see streamlined permitting systems that enable us to deploy the energy we need safely and responsibly. This includes modernizing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by narrowing the scope of required analysis, clarifying trigger thresholds, dramatically expanding the use of categorical exclusions, and leveraging 21st-century technologies to improve efficiency.
ACC would also like to see clear limits and timelines for the judicial review process to prevent frivolous lawsuits and break the litigation cycle that delays critical projects. With agencies prevailing in approximately 80% of appellate cases, these legal challenges often do little to improve environmental or public safety outcomes, while significantly hindering our ability to build essential infrastructure.
We would also encourage the administration to be technology-neutral in terms of permitting streamlining. As the tech and power companies emphasized at the Summit, we need energy addition from all sources, and while renewables have intermittency problems, they offer interesting marginal-cost and behind-the-meter opportunities for cheap, fast additional power to power the immediate needs of the AI race.
Additional idea or recommendation:
To ensure reliability and affordability amid rising demand, the U.S. power grid must at least double in size by 2050. Yet today, critical transmission infrastructure projects can take a decade or more to simply be approved. To meet the demands of this moment, ACC advocates for urgently modernizing our energy grid. This includes encouraging the development of large-scale transmission lines by simplifying federal backstop siting authority, establishing fair and reasonable cost allocation, and ensuring comprehensive interregional planning. A more expansive and connected grid will improve our ability to deliver power where and when it’s needed most.
We should also establish categorical exclusions for grid infrastructure projects located on previously disturbed land, within existing rights-of-way, or involving grid-enhancing technologies (GETs). Expediting these low-impact projects will accelerate grid expansion—especially since GETs can increase transmission capacity by 20–40% and offer a highly cost-effective, less disruptive alternative to building new transmission lines.
Additionally, energy efficiency offers a cost-effective solution to help manage the surge in electricity demand driven by AI. While the ENERGY STAR program remains inefficient and costly under federal control, it is a globally recognized brand. In line with DOGE’s priorities to cut waste, transitioning ENERGY STAR to a self-sustaining private-sector model would allow it to continue delivering benefits to both Americans and the grid, while reducing government spending. This shift could immediately save approximately $33 million annually and spur private-sector growth by monetizing certification, platform access, and brand usage. Privatization would enhance operational efficiency, broaden the program’s reach, and preserve public trust—enabling continued progress in energy efficiency to support grid reliability and affordability. If the administration is interested in pursuing this path, ACC has connections with private entities prepared to lead on the transition and would be happy to facilitate an introduction.
Any additional feedback or remarks?
Currently, China dominates critical mineral supply chains that will power the future of AI. To counter China’s dominance and keep America competitive, ACC advocates for investing in and accelerating domestic critical mineral development by supporting R&D for advanced mining, recycling, and processing technologies; streamlining permitting for domestic projects; partnering with allies to secure resilient supply chains; and expanding the critical minerals list to include essential materials like copper and electrical steel.