John Barrasso

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Barrasso: Whoever Powers the AI Revolution Will Win the AI Arms Race

“Adequate energy is not going to come from windmills and wishful thinking. It’s not going to come from climate mandates or Chinese solar panels… It’s going to come from America’s energy breadbasket. My home state of Wyoming is at the heart of America’s energy breadbasket.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate Floor about how American energy dominance will enable the nation to win the artificial intelligence arms race. 

Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.

Sen. Barrasso’s remarks as prepared:

“I rise today to speak about an arms race – an arms race America is currently engaged in. It is the arms race regarding artificial intelligence. And energy is the ammunition. Whoever powers the AI revolution will win the AI arms race. As we unleash affordable, reliable, American energy, America will lead the world in AI.

“The fact is, artificial intelligence takes power. It takes brainpower. It takes computing power. Above all else, it takes literal power. Electricity. Energy.

“Artificial intelligence is groundbreaking technology. It is more than chatbots and search engines. It is next-generation defense systems. It is life-saving medical breakthroughs. It is revitalized manufacturing and real-time data.

“To harness AI’s potential, we need computer servers. And to power those servers, we need energy – lots of energy.

“Because of AI, we’re seeing the biggest surge of energy demand in decades. The New York Times put it this way. In the next five years, new demand for energy – including demand to power AI – will be like adding another California to the electric grid. So, the question for this body is simple. Where is the energy going to come from?

“My Democrat colleagues will hate what I’m going to say. Adequate energy is not going to come from windmills and wishful thinking. It’s not going to come from climate mandates or Chinese solar panels. Democrats tried that during the Biden administration. Remember, Joe Biden told the Environmental Protection Agency to prioritize climate over energy that is affordable, available, and reliable. As a result, energy prices rose 31 percent in four years.

“Today, our energy grids are stressed, stretched, and strained. As one informed observer said this week, the largest grid in America simply has ‘no new capacity to meet new loads.’ America will lose the AI race unless we break our dependence on foreign minerals and foreign energy.

“The energy we need is not going to come from Democrat Green New Deal fantasies. It’s going to come from America’s energy breadbasket. My home state of Wyoming is at the heart of America’s energy breadbasket. It is where America’s energy future begins. Wyoming has powered America for more than a century. And now, once again, Wyoming is answering the call. We are drilling. We are mining. We are producing. We are building.

“Earlier this month, I visited the Brook Mine. It’s located just outside of Sheridan, Wyoming. The Brook Mine is the first new coal mine in Wyoming

in 50 years. It is also the first rare earth mineral mine in America in 70 years.

This mine holds over a billion tons of coal and nearly two million tons of critical minerals. This is how Republicans are bringing jobs, energy, and security back to America. We’re doing so at a time when the world needs American energy more than ever.

“President Trump just this week announced a historic energy trade deal with the European Union. President Trump secured an agreement for the EU to buy $750 billion of American energy. That deal also brings $600 billion in new investments into the United States. President Trump is a master dealmaker. He proved so once again this week.

“Wyoming energy workers are ready to power the world. And it’s not just with our allies abroad. Private companies are announcing historic investments in America because of pro-growth Republican policies. Just look at Senator Dave McCormick’s successful summit in Pennsylvania this month. He brought members of industry together to focus on energy and innovation. They made commitments to invest more than $90 billion right here in America. That is good for our grid, good for our economy, and good for our American workers.

“This moment goes beyond technology or trade. This is about the future of freedom. While America invests in innovation, China is pursuing censorship, surveillance, and state control. This week, in Shanghai, China released plans for a so-called ‘World AI Cooperation Organization.’ Let’s be honest. China’s vision for AI is not about cooperation. It’s about control. Their AI policy is built on oppression. Ours is built on freedom, privacy, and innovation. America must lead the AI revolution.

“President Trump recently announced an AI Action Plan. It releases American innovators from painful, punishing regulations. It tears down barriers to building new data centers. It encourages more private investment. Most importantly, it recognizes that America’s AI future depends on America’s energy future.

“Republicans have made great progress in unleashing American energy. This is only the beginning. American workers are fueling American AI dominance with American energy dominance.”

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