President Donald Trump has announced plans to bring 1,600 new power plants online over the next year, promising that electricity costs would soon drop significantly as part of his broader economic agenda.
Key Points
- Trump announces 1,600 new power plants aiming to cut electricity costs.
- AI-driven energy demand in Texas is surging, with ERCOT reporting 226 GW in new interconnection requests.
- Initiatives are positioned as part of Trump’s larger economic and energy strategy.
In a national address, President Trump cited his administration’s achievements over the past year, asserting that he inherited significant challenges from his predecessor and is actively addressing them.
In his year-end address, President Trump stated that he aims to curb the rapidly increasing costs linked to artificial intelligence through the accelerated approval of new production projects. “Within the next 12 months, we will have opened 1,600 new electrical generating plants, a record,” President Trump stated. He further stated that electricity prices, along with the cost of other goods, are expected to decline significantly in the near future.
During his address, President Trump presented charts citing declines in prices and wage growth under his administration, while attributing rising health insurance costs to Democratic policies.
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Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, prompted a 43-day government shutdown in October and November to push for an extension of pandemic-era insurance subsidies for 22 million Americans set to expire on December 31. Trump’s approval ratings fell to first-term lows during the shutdown but have since seen a modest recovery.
Trump encouraged Americans to continue supporting his administration and anticipate a series of new economic initiatives planned for the coming year. “We’re poised for an economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen,” he stated.
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President Trump’s announcement of nearly 2,000 new power plants comes as the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) faces a significant rise in energy demand from AI developers. ERCOT reported that large-load interconnection requests have surged to approximately 226 GW, up from 63 GW at the end of last year. Data center projects focused on AI-scale operations now represent about 73% of these requests, highlighting the increasing impact of artificial intelligence on Texas’s power grid.
Trump closed his address by framing these initiatives as part of his broader vision to strengthen the U.S. economy and energy sector, insisting that the steps his administration is taking will ensure long-term stability, lower costs for consumers, and maintain America’s competitive edge in emerging technologies.
