US Interior Secretary holds tens of millions in AI companies whose data centers he is promoting

💼 US Interior Secretary holds tens of millions in AI companies whose data centers he is promoting

ProPublica investigation: Doug Burgum holds $18.1–64.4 million in AI investments, BLM Director Pierce holds Nvidia and Meta stock, and USDA Deputy Secretary Boren holds $1.5–6.1 million in xAI. The BLM is currently reviewing applications for approximately 15 data centers on federal lands.

🌍 Permits for data centers and nuclear power plants in the US are being reviewed by officials with personal stakes in Nvidia, Alphabet, Meta, and xAI—there is a risk that siting rules will be shaped in favor of those who have already invested. Experts call this an "apparent" conflict of interest.

👤 If you are tracking the cost and energy of AI—watch BLM decisions: they determine the price of land, water, and electricity in the US Southwest.

Source 1: https://www.propublica.org/article/burgum-public-land-data-centers-investments Source 2: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50420710