Policymakers must take several steps to bolster America’s energy and artificial intelligence (AI) dominance — including comprehensive permitting reform, according to a new blueprint released Oct. 29 by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).
“Manufacturing sits at the crossroads of America’s energy dominance, AI leadership, and the strength of our power grid,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “If America wants to win the global race for AI, we must first win on energy.
“That means advancing the administration’s goals for energy dominance — through bipartisan, comprehensive permitting reform, modernized infrastructure, and an all-of-the-above energy strategy that allows manufacturers to innovate, build, and grow right here at home,” Timmons added.
The roadmap, entitled Manufacturing’s Roadmap to AI and Energy Dominance, outlines the steps for policymakers to take, as well as the principles that will advance U.S. energy production to unlock AI’s full potential.
AI is transforming manufacturing — but without abundant, affordable energy and a resilient and reliable power grid, America risks falling behind, according to NAM, which notes that AI-powered modern manufacturing depends on an ambitious energy and innovation policy framework, which can be achieved in part by reforms to America’s broken permitting system.
Right now, manufacturers are leading the way, integrating AI into every part of their operations, from product design, to shop floor operations, to supply chain management, NAM says.
For instance, more than half of manufacturers (51 percent) already use AI, while 80 percent say it will be essential to grow or even maintain their business by 2030, according to the Manufacturing Leadership Council, the digital transformation division of NAM.
According to the NAM blueprint, policymakers must:
- Reform America’s permitting process to get shovels in the ground faster with fewer delays and less uncertainty. Eighty percent of manufacturers say that the length and complexity of the permitting process is harmful to increasing investment.
- Strengthen American energy dominance. Manufacturers need to be able to produce and use every energy source available to meet this critical moment. Ninety-four percent of manufacturers support permitting reforms around the buildout of energy generation, infrastructure, and products.
- Ensure a reliable, resilient, and affordable grid that can power manufacturing growth and data center operations. Eighty percent of manufacturers want the Trump administration to work with Congress to deliver comprehensive permitting reform legislation to increase energy generation and grid modernization to supply the energy needed to power both AI growth and traditional manufacturing.
- Foster innovation and prevent regulatory overreach. Eighty-seven percent of manufacturers say it is important for lawmakers to understand how manufacturers use AI.
“As policymakers develop and implement permitting, energy, and grid reforms that set the stage for AI growth across manufacturing, Congress and the administration also should put in place an agile, risk-based policy framework for AI itself — one that streamlines compliance, fosters transparency, supports innovation, and aligns government policies with the realities of smart manufacturing,” the report says.