The US is facing unprecedented growth in electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI)-driven data centres, advanced manufacturing facilities, semiconductor fabrication plants, and other large energy users. This growth has exposed gaps in existing infrastructure, such as limited transmission capacity, grid congestion, ageing grid infrastructure, and delays in interconnection processes for both load and new generation. Long lead times for transmission and generation development, along with regulatory, permitting, planning and operational challenges, are threatening the ability of critical projects to meet demand.
Further, a series of the current administration’s executive orders (EOs) link energy security to US technological and economic leadership. This includes EO 14154: Unleashing American Energy (January 20, 2025), to protect the country’s economic and national security by ensuring an abundant supply of reliable energy; EO 14179: Removing Barriers to American Leadership in AI (January 23, 2025); and EO 14262: Strengthening the Reliability and Security of the United States Electric Grid (April 8, 2025).
In support of these policies, on September 18, 2025, the US Department of Energy (DOE), through its Grid Deployment Office (GDO), launched the Speed to Power initiative to speed up the development of large-scale power transmission and generation projects, so as to enable the grid to meet the growing energy demands from AI and manufacturing. The initiative aims to accelerate the development of such projects, starting with a request for information (RfI) titled, “Accelerating Speed to Power/Winning the AI Race: Federal Action to Rapidly Expand Grid Capacity and Enable Electricity Demand Growth”, to get inputs on near-term investment opportunities, project readiness, load growth expectations and infrastructure constraints that the DOE can address. It is requesting inputs on how to best leverage its funding programmes such as the Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP), Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) and the Loan Programmes Office (LPO) to mobilise federal credit, accelerate permitting and de-risk private investment.
The initiative will support federal efforts to modernise the US power grid and prevent blackouts, which the DOE warns could increase significantly by 2030 without intervention. Its success will depend on inter-agency coordination, streamlined permitting, supply chain resilience and community engagement. If executed effectively, the Speed to Power initiative could transform US grid planning from a fragmented, reactive process into a proactive, federally guided industrial strategy ensuring abundant, reliable and affordable energy supply for the digital economy.
The DOE seeks to identify large-scale generation and transmission projects that can immediately enhance the nation’s capacity to serve industrial and AI-related load growth. Priority will be given to initiatives that:
- Enable incremental load capacity of at least 3 GW, scalable up to 20 GW;
- Involve new interregional transmission (minimum 1,000 MVA) or reconductoring of existing lines (minimum 500 MVA);
- Recommission retired thermal power generation or use the existing interconnection capacity to provide reliable power generation; and
- Construct new generation or portfolios of new generation assets.
The RfI outlines several existing DOE programmes and lists authorities that could be mobilised to support these goals:
- Under the TFP, the GDO functions as the borrowing authority, and the DOE serves as an “anchor customer” for new or upgraded interregional transmission lines. By taking long-term capacity contracts, the DOE de-risks early-stage projects, enabling developers to secure financing and move more quickly towards construction.
- The GRIP programme offers competitive funding for transformative grid projects, including substation upgrades, grid hardening, advanced control systems and innovative approaches, to enhance reliability and improve transmission, storage and other regional energy infrastructure.
- The LPO provides loans and loan guarantees for energy projects involving high voltage transmission and generation, grid upgrades and integrated systems that support industrial load growth. This tool helps overcome capital market constraints and encourages private investment.
- The DOE provides technical assistance through national laboratories that offer advanced modelling, planning tools and technical support to utilities, states and developers to address challenges pertaining to grid modernisation and infrastructure investment.
Through the RfI, the DOE aims to refine these mechanisms to address grid infrastructure constraints and meet new demand in a timely and efficient manner.
The RFI invites structured responses across six thematic areas:
- Identification of large-scale projects that should be prioritised by the DOE for siting and permitting support, technical assistance, and/or federal funding. Proposers must provide project details such as location, capacity, development stage, timelines, permitting status, estimated costs and how the project supports specific industrial loads.
- Identification of high-priority geographic zones for targeted federal investment in infrastructure projects that could unlock or accelerate large-scale economic activity tied to electric load growth. These areas may include data centre corridors, semiconductor clusters, industrial parks and port complexes facing grid limitations. Respondents should identify confirmed or anticipated electric loads, ongoing electricity projects, existing infrastructure, and supporting resources such as water and telecommunications.
- Suggestions for effective use of federal support, including recommendations on structuring grants, loans, or tax incentives; streamlining environmental review and permitting processes; addressing supply chain and workforce vulnerabilities; de-risking early-stage infrastructure investment; and enhancing coordination with other federal agencies to align funding, permitting or policy with emerging electric load challenges. The DOE also seeks to gauge how to effectively leverage public-private partnerships to accelerate project development.
- Submission of load growth trends, forecasts, and a characterisation of demand growth by sector and region.
- Recording grid infrastructure constraints, including issues related to siting and permitting, financing and investment, construction timelines, supply chain challenges, workforce shortages and interconnection queues.
- Sharing additional comments, insights, recommendations, or examples of effective practices related to grid infrastructure expansion to support large electric loads.
Responses must be submitted electronically by November 21, 2025. The DOE explicitly clarifies that this RfI does not constitute a funding opportunity but will inform future programme design and potential notices of funding opportunities.
By linking AI competitiveness and industrial growth with grid modernisation, the DOE acknowledges that electricity supply is now a critical enabler of the country’s technological leadership. It seeks to identify priority projects, streamline permitting, coordinate interagency action, and leverage financial and technical resources to deliver power where it is most needed. The RfI marks the first step in shaping a modern, resilient and industrial-scale grid capable of sustaining America’s next technological revolution.
