Grid operator PJM is targeting up to 15GW of new power generation via an emergency auction to support the massive electricity demand from rapid data center growth across its territory.

Power & Energy

North Carolina lacks exact figures on the financial cost of data center tax breaks it has provided over the past 20 years, raising regulatory questions about the efficacy of its incentive programs.

Policy Controversy N. Carolina — Charlotte Observer

Amazon's board is seeking to dismiss a shareholder proposal from the non-profit As You Sow, which demands greater disclosure regarding the climate impacts of the company's rapid data center expansion.

Cooling Controversy

While the town of Smithfield moves forward with a ban on data centers, Rhode Island state lawmakers on Smith Hill are still debating the basic legislative definition of the facilities, highlighting growing regulatory friction.

Policy Opposition — Rhode Island Current

While many states spend millions in tax incentives to attract data center developments, Colorado is experiencing a political and public reckoning over the true cost-benefit ratio of these resource-intensive facilities.

Policy Controversy — Colorado Newsline

In an ironic twist, local residents are leveraging artificial intelligence tools to generate strategies and arguments to halt proposed local data center developments. This highlights the growing grassroots opposition and community pushback the data center industry is facing nationwide amidst rapid expansion.

Market Opposition — Yahoo

Hyperscale investments are rapidly shifting toward Texas and the Midwest as primary markets face severe, AI-induced energy capacity pressures, driving development into more power-rich jurisdictions.

Market Texas

Aligned Data Centers has officially broken ground on Project Caprock, a massive 540 MW data center campus located in Texas that will significantly boost regional hyperscale capacity.

New Builds Texas — W.Media

Ontario is welcoming a significant investment from Microsoft to expand the province's artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure. This major hyperscaler expansion highlights Canada's growing role in the North American data center market and the increasing demand for AI-ready facilities.

New Builds Ontario — Sydenham Current

An opinion piece arguing for a halt to the rapid expansion of AI data centers, citing the aggressive development pace and highlighting growing environmental and community concerns over these massive facilities.

AI Infra Opposition — Jacksonville Journal-Courier

Microsoft has paused all future carbon removal purchases after having previously acquired over 45 million tons of credits, marking a significant pause in a major hyperscaler's sustainability strategy.

Cooling

Local authorities have laid out specific rules and regulations that Microsoft must follow for its planned data center in Gaines Township, Michigan, setting operational and development guidelines for the hyperscaler.

Policy — MLive.com

Texas lawmakers recently held a legislative hearing to discuss the rapid growth of data centers in the state. Key takeaways focus on managing grid impacts, resource usage, and the economic benefits of the sector.

Policy Texas — KUT

With a surge in data center development requests, Texas authorities are proposing new ways to structure incentives for applicants, balancing economic development goals with the state's infrastructure and grid capabilities.

Policy Texas — News Radio 1200 WOAI

This analysis from the University of Calgary explores the potential impact of artificial intelligence data centers on Alberta's water resources and power grid. It highlights growing concerns around the resource-intensive nature of AI workloads and their long-term implications for local utilities and environmental sustainability.

Power & Energy Alberta — ucalgary.ca