Forget the software. Follow the 100 MW power lines into the desert.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

January 31, 2026   |   Listen Online   |   Read Online The Federal Land Rush: What BlackRock Sees in Idaho   Claire West Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes You're reading The Budget Analyst — a calm space in the noise of markets. Here we collect signals, patterns, and quiet insights that help you see the bigger picture. No rush, no hype — just clarity for your financial journey.   In partnership with Wide Moat Research     The room is quiet. A small fan hums in the corner. Outside, frost clings to the windows. Far away, in the high desert, digital heat rises. We are seeing a moment that feels like a regime change. This is not a tech story; it is a story about the plumbing of power.  Most people argue over new AI models. Big firms look at the ground instead. They see $1.8 trillion in cash waiting for a place to land. We see the signal clearly now. It is a quiet, steady move toward the physical. The future is anchored in the soil. The rules of the game just changed.         The 100 MW Threshold: Rewiring the Federal Estate On July 23, 2025, the rules changed. Executive Order 14318 shifted how we build. It speeds up permits for AI hubs that need over 100 MW of power. By doing this, the state became the nation's largest landlord. The Department of Energy moved fast. It chose four main sites for new builds. These include the Idaho National Lab and Oak Ridge. This is plumbing, not hype. We are seeing power and security meet on a massive scale. A new order in December 2025 removed the final road blocks. States can no longer stop these big projects. The federal government now treats AI power like a basic utility. The result is a sovereign effort to win the AI race by owning the dirt. The Military Backdoor: From Air Bases to Server Racks In October 2025, a new signal appeared. It came from the U.S. Air Force. They offered land at five sites like Arnold AFB and Edwards AFB. These bases once tested fast jets. Now, they will host server halls and cooling towers. This is a "Backdoor" land rush. Developers use Department of Defense lands to skip red tape. They avoid local zoning and long lawsuits. The "Digital Soil" is being tilled where the public rarely looks. Firms like BlackRock and Blackstone are already moving. They know that software is easy to make, but land with power is rare. This is the new utility regime. The shift from software to hard systems is almost done. Every few decades, America does something extraordinary. It takes a crisis... and turns it into a Gold Rush. In 1862, Lincoln opened federal land to the railroads. Investors made fortunes. In 1910, Taft opened federal land to oil drillers. Dynasties were built. Today, it is happening again. But this time, we aren't laying track or drilling wells. We are building the physical backbone of Artificial Intelligence. Data centers are the new oil wells. And they need massive amounts of land and power. President Trump's new Executive Order has sparked a modern-day land rush. The biggest asset managers in the world—BlackRock, Blackstone, PGIM—are already pouring billions into this sector. They want to own the land. But I've found a "Backdoor" that lets you stake your claim alongside them—starting with just a few hundred dollars. See the 3 stocks that let you own the "Digital Soil" of the AI revolution.         The Friction Point: Cleaning Up the Digital Frontier The move is fast, but it still has friction. The EPA is working under a tight deadline. Administrator Zeldin wants to turn old, dirty sites into data hubs. New rules from January 19, 2026, will help this happen. We are also watching FERC as it tries to fix the power grid. High costs and the need for steady power create a lot of stress. The "New Utility" requires a total overhaul of how we move power. This is the invisible frame that holds up the AI economy. The real win is not in the chips. It is in the scaffolding and the rails. By late 2026, tech and infrastructure will be the same thing. Stake your claim in the plumbing, because the software is just the water flowing through it.  This is the only signal that matters.       Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here © 2026 The Budget Analyst 228 Park Ave S, #29976, New York, New York 10003, United States Terms of Service