On November 3, voters made it abundantly clear that they reject the inevitability of the tech industry’s rush to build out AI data centers. Dozens of Democratic candidates ran successful campaigns talking about AI and accountability for Big Tech, and dozens of AI data center moratoria were passed around the country.
In the brief lame duck session before this next generation of political leaders takes office, the quartet of Senators behind the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA) seem eager to fulfill Abundance Twitter’s dreams. Indeed, they are expediting the passage of a law that would allow Trump to lock-in data center construction on federal lands; increase the speed at which AI data centers can access the power they need to come online, including from fossil fuels; limit public input in the permitting process; and preserve data centers’ ability to pollute and sicken communities around the country with behind-the-meter gas power.
The public is largely unaware of the fact that there is a “permitting reform” bill under active consideration in Congress, much less that it would benefit the AI and oil and gas industries they just repudiated. Meanwhile, the AI industry and its backers, knowing that they have a toxic brand, have demonstrated remarkable messaging discipline in avoiding talking publicly about BAAJA as a gift to data centers.
Nevertheless, some industry statements and candid remarks have slipped into the public record. This page will be a growing repository of sources on how BAAJA would benefit the data center buildout from within the world of the AI industry and those that finance and fuel it:
Major Tech and AI Trade Association Celebrated BAAJA As “Essential” (Information Technology Industry Council, Sept. 30, 2026)
Following release of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026, global tech trade association ITI President and CEO Jason Oxman issued the following statement: “Comprehensive permitting reform is essential to America’s ability to build, compete, and lead – especially in the AI era. Greater certainty, lower costs, and faster deployment of critical infrastructure will help power the next era of American growth while maintaining important environmental safeguards.”
Goldman Sachs Forecasts Increasing Data Center Capacity, AI Computing Demand, But Identifies Power Supply And Permitting As “Biggest Variable” (BigGo Finance, Nov. 3, 2026)
“Goldman Sachs has sharply raised its global data center capacity forecast. With AI computing demand outpacing expectations, the bank estimates that about 170 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity will be added worldwide over the next five years. That translates into investment needs of $8.5 trillion alone. […] Goldman Sachs warned, however, that execution risks are growing. The biggest variable is power supply. Microsoft withdrew from data center lease commitments as power problems delayed service launches, and Oracle’s New Mexico project is struggling with power permitting. Goldman Sachs noted that securing stable power is becoming a key condition determining project schedules.”
Industry Groups Representing Big Tech Have Endorsed BAAJA (Latitude Media, Oct. 29, 2026)
“The Senate permitting deal, called the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, or BAAJA, aims to actually enforce that pledge. And so far, at least two industry groups that represent companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft have endorsed the legislation: the Corporate Energy Buyers Association and the Electricity Customer Alliance.
“Jeff Dennis, executive director of ECA — which represents tech companies and residential and industrial customers — said BAAJA strikes a balance between encouraging the build out of larger transmission lines in a more financially disciplined way, while setting the stage for long-term affordability. He noted that data center developers have already said they expect to pay their own costs, and then some.
“Dennis said a final bill must ensure that data centers aren’t forced to shoulder so much of the costs that they ultimately decide to build off-grid. Some projects are already going that route, including those backed by Microsoft and Amazon, mainly powered by gas turbines and engines and backup diesel generators.”
The Corporate Energy Buyers Association (CEBA), Which Represents Many AI and Fossil Fuel Companies, Endorsed BAAJA, Citing Increased Energy Demand, Which Is Mainly Propelled By Data Centers (CEBA, Oct. 21, 2026)
“Companies cannot commit to investing billions of dollars in a project if federal reviews can be delayed indefinitely or approvals can be paused or revoked without issuance…. BAAJA ensures that technology neutrality is a durable principle of federal permitting law… Federal permitting should not pick winners and losers… After 20 years of flat electricity demand, the U.S. is facing a nearly unprecedented forecast increase of up to 166 GW before 2029.”
- “In the United States, data centres made up half of all growth in electricity use.” (International Energy Agency, 2026)
Chamber of Progress, Whose Corporate Partners Include a16z, Amazon, Apple, Build American AI, Google, OpenAI, and Other Tech and Crypto Firms, Supports BAAJA, Citing Electricity Demand For AI Compute (Chamber of Progress, Oct. 5, 2026)
“Chamber of Progress, a tech industry coalition promoting technology’s progressive future, writes to thank you for your encouraging statement on the Senate’s bipartisan permitting reform package and to express our strong support for the enactment of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA). After two decades of flat electricity demand, U.S. consumption is expected to grow 35% to 50% by 2040, driven by manufacturing, electrification, and new computing needs.”
American Petroleum Institute And Major Oil And Gas Companies Cite Increased Energy Demand As Justification For BAAJA (American Petroleum Institute, Oct. 22, 2026)
“With energy demand continuing to grow, durable permitting reform is essential for unlocking investment, expanding American energy infrastructure and ensuring access to affordable, reliable energy.”
Gas Pipeline Company Williams Co. Calls For Permitting Reform To Power AI, Remove Environmental Lawsuits As Obstacle To Gas Pipelines (Williams Company, Sept. 24, 2026)
“AI, electrification and the onshoring of manufacturing are creating unprecedented growth in power demand. […] We need to build the power facilities and linear infrastructure necessary to meet this growth or we will surely fall behind. And America’s energy security depends on our ability to supply our allies with American natural gas.”
Gas Trade Association “LNG Allies” Praises BAAJA For Making It Easier To Build Gas Infrastructure, Harder For Public To Block Them (LNG Allies, Oct. 1, 2026)
LNG Allies President and CEO Fred H. Hutchison: “This agreement would give US LNG project sponsors much-needed confidence that an approval, once granted, will not be undone years later in court. […] We thank President Trump and Sens. Capito, Lee, Whitehouse, and Heinrich for working across the aisle, and we urge the Senate to make this its first order of business in November.”
LNG Export Company Venture Global, Which Is Making New Agreements to Supply Gas Power For AI Data Centers, Supports Permitting Reform for Reducing Legal Challenges To LNG
“By providing Island-Mode power generation, gas supply, closed-loop water systems, thousands of acres of land, data centers, and other necessary infrastructure, Venture Global is creating a vertically integrated AI utility that could solve for the many chokepoints associated with the AI buildout.” (Venture Global, Oct. 15, 2026)
“Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel stood together on stage Tuesday at a global energy summit in a call for ‘lightning speed’ policy changes to support American energy exports. […] Sabel said the complexity of the regulatory process is the primary challenge for developers of LNG projects.” (The Center Square, March 25, 2026)