If you've noticed an increase in your heating bill and wondered what's going on, a Nest thermostat can help you figure out why that happened. Here's how.

Beaufort County Council approved a temporary moratorium—amended to 24 months—on acceptance or approval of certain data center permits to allow study of cumulative impacts including water, energy and noise. The amendment passed by council and the moratorium was adopted as amended.

The governor told reporters she will seek a data-center oversight bill in the first 60 days of the legislative session to set statewide expectations for energy use, water use, transparency and local workforce commitments so communities can understand projects now in process.

A committee member suggested a 12-month pause to study whether Mooresville should allow data centers and to develop siting parameters focused on energy and water use; officials cited growing regulation and concerns about labeling data centers a "noxious use."

A walk-on resolution urging Governor Oak to sign the Responsible Data Center Development Act passed with one abstention; sponsors cited concerns about energy, water use, noise and local environmental review and asked the state to require public hearings and community benefits for centers above 20 MW.

AI giants including Google and Microsoft have sometimes touted climate benefits that aren't backed up by academic evidence, a new report says.

The New Franklin City Council voted 6–1 to impose a six-month stay on filing, review and approval of new data‑center applications, citing infrastructure and public‑interest concerns; opponents said existing zoning review would suffice and warned the pause could deter investment.

The Canton Township Board of Trustees adopted a 12‑month moratorium (Resolution 2026‑11) on new data center, data processing and computer center uses, directing staff and the Planning Commission to study potential impacts on water, utilities, noise and the local economy before drafting new regulations.

Ohio lawmakers are considering a bill that would give energy providers more authority to manage customer energy usage through a voluntary demand response program, aiming to reduce costs for both individuals and small businesses while bolstering the state's electrical grid stability during peak periods of high demand. The proposed program would allow utilities to temporarily adjust energy consumption by modifying thermostats and water heaters, but customers would still have the option to override these changes, with compensation potentially offered in the form of annual payments or per-event fees.

PJM Interconnection, the organization managing the electric grid across 13 states including Pennsylvania, is issuing a rare warning: under exceptionally challenging conditions, it may face difficulties ensuring adequate power supply this summer. This marks the first time PJM has publicly suggested potential shortfalls in its ability to meet demand in extreme circumstances, potentially requiring consumers to voluntarily reduce their energy usage. While PJM anticipates sufficient capacity to handle typical peak demand, projected at 154,000 megawatts (enough to power roughly 123.2 million homes), a worst-case scenario involving a record-breaking peak load exceeding 166,000 megawatts could strain resources. In such a situation, PJM would activate demand response programs, incentivizing participating consumers to lower their electricity consumption. PJM currently has 179,200 megawatts of generation capacity available, bolstered by a further 7,900 megawatts from contracted demand response capabilities. The previous peak load record was set in 2006 at 165,563 megawatts, with recent summers reaching 152,700 megawatts in 2022 and 147,000 megawatts in 2023. The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission has released reports highlighting the preparedness of utilities and PJM for summer electricity demands, noting upgrades, emergency plans, and regional collaboration. However, NOAA's forecast of a hotter, wetter summer, coupled with the potential for an active hurricane season, presents significant challenges that could escalate demand and increase the risk of disruptions, as exemplified by the recent storm affecting southwestern Pennsylvania.

Transportation and development staff walked commissioners through what data centers are, their energy and water demands, and the state moratorium on certain tax breaks; the board asked staff to notify them of any local applications and to return with draft ZDO (zoning) guidance addressing location, resource capacity and potential code changes.

Unless you have been hibernating in a cave in the Himalayas for some time you cannot have missed the hip new phase in our tech world — AI…

Unless you have been hibernating in a cave in the Himalayas for some time you cannot have missed the hip new phase in our tech world — AI…

Unless you have been hibernating in a cave in the Himalayas for some time you cannot have missed the hip new phase in our tech world — AI…

Unless you have been hibernating in a cave in the Himalayas for some time you cannot have missed the hip new phase in our tech world — AI…

Unless you have been hibernating in a cave in the Himalayas for some time you cannot have missed the hip new phase in our tech world — AI…

Unless you have been hibernating in a cave in the Himalayas for some time you cannot have missed the hip new phase in our tech world — AI…

Unless you have been hibernating in a cave in the Himalayas for some time you cannot have missed the hip new phase in our tech world — AI…

Unless you have been hibernating in a cave in the Himalayas for some time you cannot have missed the hip new phase in our tech world — AI…

Unless you have been hibernating in a cave in the Himalayas for some time you cannot have missed the hip new phase in our tech world — AI…