January 15, 2025--Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed an executive order opening up federal lands for gigawatt-scale data centers capable of meeting the rigorous data needs of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing.

The order mandates that the Department of Energy and Department of Defense each pick three suitable sites that are overseen by the agencies in order to house new data centers and power operations, paving the way for six facilities. Under the order, private companies will lease the land, pay for the construction and operation of the data centers, and be responsible for ensuring a supply of clean energy to power the new facilities. These companies also will have to buy "an appropriate share" of U.S.-made semiconductors for the facilities.