Since It's A Great Way To Gurantee Never-Ending Growth In Energy Demand, Tech-Bros & Saudis Pushing Hard For More AI
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“We need energy in all forms,” Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, now chair of the pro-AI think tank, Special Competitive Studies Project, told a Congressional hearing on April 9. “Renewable, nonrenewable, whatever.” Schmidt, whose organization published a roadmap on AI for the Trump administration, was testifying before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Schmidt has a history of shaping U.S. laws on AI, previously serving as chair of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, which under his watch wrote legislative proposals that later became law. The committee’s hearing on AI was inspired, according to its chair, Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), by Schmidt’s recent work. “If you think about it, it’s going to take enormous energy to beat China to AI,” Guthrie said as the hearing kicked off, emphasizing his desire to make AI rules that would endure beyond the next two to four years. “Dr. Schmidt, you said all energy resources are needed,” he said, “and then AI will develop solutions to deal with climate change.”
Climate experts have warned that it’s not that simple. AI is at best a double-edged sword for the climate — in part because the technology requires so much energy. Just the day before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s hearing, Trump signed a raft of executive orders promoting coal, the latest in a volley of executive orders and administrative moves to deregulate and subsidize fossil fuels, citing AI demand expectations.
Schmidt has carried the same promise to top Saudis – drawing a similar positive response. Saudi Arabia’s climate plan – which earns a failing grade from climate watchdogs – involves the use of carbon offsets and net-zero math, including the country’s Voluntary Carbon Market, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the nation’s sovereign wealth fund.
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https://www.desmog.com/2025/04/22/ai-energy-demand-can-keep-fossil-fuels-alive-tech-backers-promise-worlds-two-biggest-oil-producers/