Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-N.D.) is making moves on AI.
Elected to the House last November, Fedorchak alerted Speaker Mike Johnson, the Republican Study Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee before announcing her new working group on energy for artificial intelligence.
Fedorchak’s goal was to get sign-off on her approach so she can move quickly on an issue that’s a top industry concern and gaining traction in Congress.
As the lawmaker described her effort on the House floor, Fedorchak said she wants to move toward a “legislative framework that secures our energy dominance, strengthens our electric grid and positions America as the global leader in AI.”
Fedorchak, who served more than a decade on the North Dakota Public Service Commission before being elected in November, also wants to bring in tech companies, according to spokesperson Kate Roberts. The biggest players in AI are trying to ink their own deals for energy generation to power the massive needs of running algorithmic systems, while smaller firms will need to plug into the grid that is increasingly stretched.
As a result, energy use by AI will likely triple in the next five years.
The pillars of her working group include “right energy regulations” and beating China on AI.
Working groups have a mixed record of making advances on major issues. They benefit from bringing on experts who can define the issue before it becomes political.
It’s also an opportunity for the freshman lawmaker to make her mark and get a seat at the table on an issue that could move through Congress this session.
Fedorchak has become something of a regular in tech working groups. She’s also a member of the privacy group within the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which we scooped earlier this week.
Despite the previous bipartisan proposals on privacy, that working group is all Republican. Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) said that effort would essentially require generating a whole new approach.
On the energy-for-AI group, Fedorchak hasn’t signed up any members but she’s hoping she’ll be able to bring on board her fellow lawmakers as well as outside experts, Roberts said.
