A new Brattle Group analysis suggests that removing regulatory and technical barriers to distributed energy resources (DERs) could…

Speaking at ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi, IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera stated that accelerating power demand may render current 2030…

A proposed Senate bill could result in data center operators facing $55 billion in transmission charges over a decade, according to projections. The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act would require large computing facilities to contribute more to the cost of electricity grid expansion and would compel utilities to verify the demand behind infrastructure investments.

Data centers are being constructed in locations that offer favorable conditions such as readily available fiber optic cables, affordable land, and attractive tax incentives, rather than necessarily close to traditional power generation facilities. This geographic shift necessitates significant investment in new electrical infrastructure, including high-voltage transmission lines and substations, which is driving up costs. A

A recent emergency directive from the Department of Energy has drawn attention to the strain on power infrastructure due to escalating electricity consumption, particularly linked to the growth of artificial intelligence. The directive, issued October 13th and extending through October 16th, permits increased power generation within the PJM Interconnection. This action was triggered by unseasonably

Proposed Transmission Line Faces Opposition in Southeastern Minnesota A proposed high-voltage transmission project is encountering resistance from landowners in southeastern Minnesota as Xcel Energy and Dairyland Power Cooperative advance through planning and state review. The proposed Gopher-Badger Link would incorporate approximately 139 miles of transmission infrastructure within Minnesota, stretching from the North Rochester Substation near

Surging demand for data centers is increasing the need for new power transmission infrastructure, and better coordination between power networks could potentially lower consumer costs. The expansion of transmission infrastructure in the United States is lagging behind the rapid growth in demand from new data centers, resulting in grid congestion across the country. Within the

Surging demand for data center power is highlighting the need for new power transmission infrastructure across the United States, and improved coordination between electricity networks could potentially lower consumer costs. Construction of power transmission lines has lagged behind increasing demand, particularly from data centers, causing congestion across the nation. Within the PJM network, which serves

California Law Aims to Expedite Stalled Grid Projects Sacramento, CA – A new law signed last week by California Governor Gavin Newsom seeks to accelerate the construction of vital transmission lines, addressing significant delays impacting the state's clean energy goals. The legislation, Assembly Bill 2493, places greater accountability on investor-owned utilities and independent transmission developers

Canada's current approach to energy transition, focused on pollution control and incremental emissions reductions, is insufficient to achieve meaningful change. The Globe and Mail article argues that the country has been treating the energy transition as a problem of counting greenhouse gas emissions rather than building a new system. This approach has led to scattered funding across multiple initiatives like hydrogen, carbon capture, and biofuels without a cohesive strategy. The authors, from The Transition Accelerator, propose a new playbook that prioritizes three key areas: expanding the electric grid, electrifying personal mobility, and upgrading home and building heating systems. The article emphasizes that these areas are ready for implementation, with financial benefits already evident for households. For instance, electric vehicles often cost less to own than gasoline cars when considering fuel and maintenance savings, and heat pumps provide cost-effective alternatives for heating systems. The authors argue that focusing on these foundational elements will create a more efficient and competitive economy, while also highlighting that certain initiatives, like ethanol blends for passenger vehicles, are dead ends that waste resources better spent on infrastructure. The report stresses the need for long-term commitment beyond election cycles to build the necessary infrastructure and secure Canada's position in the global clean energy economy. The article concludes that Canada must shift from managing the old fossil fuel system to building a new one, with strategic investment in the grid, electrified transport, and heating systems as the foundation for broader economic transformation.

A significant power infrastructure project is planned for eastern South Dakota, raising questions about the region’s future development. The proposed 765-kilovolt transmission line, the state’s first of its kind, will traverse Grant, Deuel, and Brookings counties. This line, described as the electrical equivalent of replacing a rural highway with a six-lane interstate, will connect Big

JOHNSON CREEK — A proposed transmission line project, the Wisconsin Southeast Transmission Project, is progressing through routing and site evaluation, and a community representative forum is scheduled for October 6 in Johnson Creek. The project, intended to meet increasing electricity demand, support renewable energy, and strengthen the power grid, involves a 106-mile, 345kv transmission line.

Exus Renewables North America significantly expands its U.S. presence with the acquisition of four solar projects from ibV Energy Partners, a subsidiary of ib vogt. The deal, announced September 29, 2026, brings 715 megawatts of development-stage capacity to Exus’s portfolio, effectively doubling its existing U.S. renewable capacity. The acquisition also secures five years of priority

Discover why utility bills are rising faster than inflation and how facility managers can cut energy costs through strategic demand management.

House Panel Examines Energy Costs and Small Business Challenges A House Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains held a hearing on September 2 to evaluate the impact of rising energy, water, and infrastructure demands on small businesses amid growth in industries like manufacturing and data centers. The discussion, titled "Fueling The Golden Age:

Construction has begun on a $1 billion plus transmission line connecting Idaho and Nevada, marking the start of a decades-long project that has adapted its financing and intended applications along the way. Great Basin Transmission LLC, an affiliate of LS Power, held a groundbreaking ceremony September 3 in Ely, Nevada, for the Southwest Intertie Project-North,

IREN Receives Conditional Base Load Status for Texas Data Center Campus The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has conditionally designated IREN’s 2 GW Sweetwater Hub in West Texas as Base Load through the grid operator’s Batch Zero process, according to an announcement made September 9, 2026. The Sweetwater Hub encompasses two sites: a 1,700-acre

Southern Wisconsin communities are actively engaging in discussions about a proposed transmission line project, and the Town of Lake Mills has formally registered its opposition through recently adopted resolutions. The BECI 765-kV Transmission Line Project, led by Midcontinent Grid Solutions (MGS), involves a 190-mile route connecting three electric facilities throughout Southern Wisconsin at an estimated

Ohio Utilities Seek Approval for $1.6 Billion Grid Upgrades Driven by Data Centers Columbus, Ohio – Ohio utility companies are requesting approval to spend over $1.6 billion on high-voltage infrastructure intended to connect new data centers to the state’s electrical grid, a move raising concerns about potential cost burdens for all Ohio residents. This surge

Governor Shapiro Imposes New Data Center Requirements Through Executive Order Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has issued Executive Order 2026-05, titled “Protecting Pennsylvania Consumers from Data Center Impacts,” which introduces new stipulations for data center projects within the state, effective immediately. The order addresses concerns over rising electricity demands and costs associated with proposed data centers

Texas legislators are scrutinizing the rapid expansion of data centers within the state, initiating discussions regarding oversight protocols to address escalating costs and potential consequences. A hearing was convened last week to examine concerns related to grid infrastructure upgrades, water resource depletion, and community impacts resulting from this growth. Governor Greg Abbott has directed the

Proposed Power Line Draws Community Attention in Wisconsin BARABOO, Wis. – A large gathering occurred Tuesday at the UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus as residents learned about a proposed power line intended to improve Wisconsin's electrical infrastructure. Midcontinent Grid Solutions (MGS) is leading the project, currently in preliminary planning, which would extend across Southern Wisconsin

Illinois faces growing concerns regarding energy consumption related to the proliferation of data centers, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence development. Several large facilities are under construction in the state, each requiring significant power – enough to supply roughly 100,000 homes. Illinois has actively courted data center investment, leveraging a relatively stable electricity grid, lower costs