In a recent LinkedIn post, Kevin O’Leary discusses the critical need for the United States to accelerate its energy production to compete with China, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence and data centers. O’Leary highlights a specific initiative in Utah as a model for overcoming regulatory hurdles and boosting power generation capacity.
The Challenge of Energy Production and Global Competition
O’Leary frames the current situation as a race against China, stating that the Asian nation is building power infrastructure at a significantly faster pace. He points to permitting issues across the United States as a major bottleneck hindering progress. According to O’Leary, this slow pace of development puts American leadership, especially in rapidly evolving fields like AI, at risk.
“The challenge we have against the Chinese is they’re building 10X the power we are. We’ve had permitting problems across the country.”
He argues that the ability to rapidly deploy energy infrastructure is directly tied to the nation’s capacity to lead in technological innovation, such as AI, which requires vast amounts of data processing power. The demand for data centers, he emphasizes, is immediate and growing.
Utah’s Proactive Approach to Energy Development
The focus of O’Leary’s post then shifts to Utah, which he presents as a state stepping up to meet this challenge. He details how Utah has identified a significant opportunity with 40,000 acres of land, coupled with existing pipeline infrastructure, to develop new power sources.
Accelerated Permitting and Clean Energy Solutions
A key aspect highlighted by O’Leary is Utah’s designation aimed at accelerating the permitting process. This, he suggests, is crucial for quickly bringing new power generation online. The state plans to utilize natural gas with clean-burning turbines, a strategy that not only provides necessary power but also allows for the potential to feed excess energy back into the grid, benefiting the local community.
“Utah stepped up and said, ‘Look, we can compete. Not only do we have the land, 40,000 acres, we’ve got a pipeline running through the land, and we have this designation that can accelerate permitting.'”
As Kevin O’Leary notes, this approach is about more than just local energy needs; it’s about national competitiveness.
The Imperative for AI Leadership
O’Leary reiterates the urgency for the United States to maintain its leadership in artificial intelligence. He posits that the availability of robust and scalable power infrastructure is a non-negotiable prerequisite for this enduring leadership.
“We need to compete with China. We need to lead in AI in perpetuity. Data centers are what we need and we need them now, and Utah’s stepped up.”
In O’Leary’s view, the initiative in Utah serves as a potential blueprint for other regions grappling with similar energy development challenges. By streamlining regulatory processes and leveraging existing resources, states can contribute to a stronger national energy foundation, essential for technological advancement and global competitiveness.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Kevin O'Leary on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on April 27, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →