OpenAI on Monday said the U.S. needs to substantially ramp up its investment in new energy capacity if it wants to stay ahead of China in the race to develop artificial intelligence.

The startup has been inking deals for ambitious infrastructure buildouts in recent months that will require massive amounts of power. The sprawling data centers will push the boundaries of what is possible in the U.S. during a time when the electric grid is already under strain.

“Electricity is not simply a utility,” OpenAI said in a blog post Tuesday. “It’s a strategic asset that is critical to building the AI infrastructure that will secure our leadership on the most consequential technology since electricity itself.”

OpenAI shared an 11-page submission with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, in which it encouraged the U.S. to commit to building 100 gigawatts of new energy capacity each year.

A gigawatt is a measure of power, and 10 gigawatts is roughly equivalent to the annual power consumption of 8 million U.S. households, according to a CNBC analysis of data from the Energy Information Administration.

OpenAI said that China added 429 gigawatts of new power capacity last year, while the U.S. added 51 gigawatts. The company said this disparity is creating an “electron gap” that is putting the U.S. at risk of falling behind.

“Electrons are the new oil,” OpenAI said.

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