Donald Trump says the U.S. is about to see a massive surge in power generation — all aimed at cutting energy costs as artificial intelligence drives demand through the roof.
In a national address, Trump pledged that 1,600 new power plants will come online within the next 12 months. He said this expansion will push electricity prices down, along with the cost of everyday goods, as part of his broader economic plan.
According to Trump, the country needs to move fast because AI is changing everything, especially how much power the U.S. consumes. Data centers that run AI systems are using enormous amounts of electricity, and demand is rising faster than expected.
That concern is already showing up in Texas.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) warned that requests for large power connections have exploded. The queue has jumped from 63 gigawatts last year to about 226 gigawatts today. Even more striking — around 73% of those requests are coming from data centers, most of them tied to AI-scale operations.
Trump said his administration plans to speed up approvals for new power projects so energy supply can keep up with this surge. He framed it as essential not just for AI, but for economic growth, higher wages, and global competitiveness.
“Within the next 12 months, we will have opened 1,600 new electrical generating plants, a record,” Trump said. He added that Americans should expect electricity and consumer prices to fall significantly.
During the address, Trump pointed to charts showing price declines and wage growth under his leadership. He blamed rising health insurance costs on Democratic policies and referenced a 43-day government shutdown in October and November, led by Senate Democrats pushing to extend pandemic-era insurance subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.
Trump acknowledged that his approval ratings dipped during the shutdown but said they have begun to recover.
Looking ahead, he urged Americans to stay supportive and prepare for more economic initiatives in the coming year.
“We’re on the edge of an economic boom like the world has never seen,” he said.
Trump wrapped up by tying everything together — energy, AI, jobs, and growth — saying that expanding power generation now is the key to keeping costs low, the economy strong, and the U.S. ahead in the global race for next-generation technology.
