BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has warned that China's rapid construction of 100 gigawatts of nuclear and solar power is handing it a decisive advantage in the race to supply energy for artificial intelligence. The warning comes as U.S. moratoriums on new energy projects slow American progress, leaving the country struggling to keep pace.
Why energy matters for AI
AI data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity. Training a single large language model can use as much power as hundreds of homes in a year. Countries that can build out clean, reliable generation quickly are better positioned to attract AI investment and development. Fink pointed to China's 100 GW program — a mix of nuclear reactors and solar farms — as evidence that Beijing is moving faster than Washington.
US moratoriums as a drag
In the United States, state and federal moratoriums on new power plants, transmission lines, and even solar installations have slowed the buildout of new capacity. Environmental reviews, local opposition, and permitting delays can stretch projects for years. While the U.S. has ambitious climate goals, the gap between announcement and operation is widening. Fink's comments suggest that without a streamlined approach, the country risks falling behind in the global AI competition.
Fink’s view from the top
Fink leads BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager with over $10 trillion in assets under management. His firm has invested heavily in both energy infrastructure and AI-related companies. That vantage point gives him a clear look at where the bottlenecks are. He has not called for any specific policy, but his warning underscores the stakes for U.S. regulators and lawmakers.
The question now is whether the United States can speed up its energy permitting without sacrificing environmental safeguards. The answer will help determine which country dominates the next wave of AI development.
