Trump's Gas Plan for AI: Fast Tech Meets Slow Builds

President Trump just rolled out a bold idea to fuel AI boom with natural gas power plants. But here's the catch, getting those plants up and running could drag on for years, leaving everyone wondering if it's the quick fix we need.

Back on January 16, 2026, Trump teamed up with governors from the Northeast to tackle the power crunch. Tech giants like Google or Microsoft would look for 15-year contracts to buy electricity from brand-new gas plants. The goal? Pump out reliable, round-the-clock power for data centers that AI relies on.

Trump believes this will trigger a wave of new construction, creating jobs and keeping energy costs from skyrocketing for regular folks. The push comes as AI explodes, with data centers popping up faster than ever, some ready in just 18 months. But power plants? They're a different story. Lead times have stretched from about 3.5 years to five now, thanks to permits, supply chains etc. Trump wants gas over wind or solar because it's steady, not weather-dependent. Still, critics say it locks us into fossil fuels longer, ignoring cleaner options.

It's probably smart to address the energy gap head-on, but relying on gas feels like a step back when tech moves so fast. Who knows, maybe it'll bridge the gap until nuclear or other tech catches up. This could reshape how America powers its future. We'll see if the plants get built before AI leaves us in the dark.

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