State Regulators and Data Center Lobby Collaborate on Grid Management Plan In late June 2026, Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) Chair Kelsey Bagot and Data Center Coalition (DCC) President Josh Levy presented a joint proposal to PJM Interconnection executives concerning the management of electricity demands from large data centers. The initiative, framed as a collaborative

Staff reported fast progress on demolition and remediation at a former industrial site, noted an EPA reimbursement paperwork request and said contractors expect to begin construction in March, with best‑case completion of current on‑site work by Thanksgiving.

AI data centers are spreading across America, sparking protests over water, energy, pollution, corporate power and the environmental impact on communities.

Carroll County Faces Opposition to Major Transmission Line Project Carroll County is at the center of a dispute between local residents and PJM Interconnection, the operator of a large power grid spanning thirteen states and Washington, D.C., regarding the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project. The proposed project involves a seventy-mile, 500,000-volt transmission line slated to run

A hearing took place Wednesday before the Texas House State Affairs Committee concerning data centers and the transmission lines required for their operation. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) plans to build hundreds of miles of 765 kV transmission lines intended to supply substantial amounts of electricity to significant consumers, including data centers. Numerous

Governor Abbott Orders Audit of Texas Data Center Grid Connections Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a directive mandating a comprehensive review and audit of all data center projects seeking to connect to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid. The directive, released August 3, 2026, requires the PUCT and ERCOT to complete this

Austin and Columbus emerge as unlikely data center growth frontiers

Arista patched a critical VeloCloud command injection bug under active exploitation, with CISA enforcing a fix deadline. The UK’s science funding cut threatens Jodrell Bank Observatory after 2028. A physics teacher was arrested for applauding critics of a proposed AI datacenter, sparking debate on disorderly conduct. China accused US AI companies of model distillation, vowing “all necessary measures.” Google launched Beyond Zero, an AI-driven security model replacing human-speed authorization for enterprise AI agents.

Tech layoffs hit 78,557 in Q1 2026, with nearly half driven by AI and automation. TikTok is expanding its European presence with a €1 billion investment in a Finnish data center to bolster data sovereignty. Meanwhile, Bill Gates is scheduled to testify before the US House Oversight Committee regarding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and reports reveal ICE is using advanced Graphite spyware to intercept encrypted messages.

During public comment residents raised infrastructure, annexation and transparency concerns about proposed AI/data-center expansion; commissioners then debated a possible policy to notify all commissioners of outside-invitation events but legal counsel said a written policy must be drafted before a vote.

Texas Data Center Expansion Paused Amid Drought and Grid Concerns A dispute over a proposed data center near San Marcos has sparked a statewide discussion about the balance between technology development, grid stability, and water conservation in Texas. The San Marcos City Council denied a rezoning request for a planned data center adjacent to rancher

Governor Greg Abbott has mandated a comprehensive review of all proposed data center connections to the Texas power grid. The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) will now thoroughly verify information submitted by projects seeking interconnection. Projects not meeting established guidelines will be denied access. “Safeguarding the

Governor Greg Abbott has issued a new directive addressing data center expansion following recent legislative action and widespread protests across Texas. The directive instructs the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to audit all data center projects currently in the ERCOT interconnection process, preventing any further progress

Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a statewide audit of all data centers seeking permits in Texas, effectively halting new approvals while regulators review applications. This action addresses mounting concerns regarding the rapid expansion of these facilities and their potential impact on the state's power grid. The Public Utilities Commission and the Energy Reliability Council of

PPL Corporation and Blackstone Infrastructure have jointly invested $40.4 million in acquiring over 500 acres of property across Jenkins, Plains, and Salem townships, Luzerne County. The acquisition, finalized Thursday, July 30th, is intended to support the development of power plant facilities designed to meet rising electricity demand driven by data center expansion and the retirement

Austin – Texas lawmakers are examining strategies to manage the escalating electricity demands of data centers and other substantial power consumers, prompted by concerns about the long-term stability and cost impacts on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid. The Senate Business and Commerce Committee held a hearing Tuesday to gather insights regarding ERCOT's

AUSTIN, Texas – The rapid expansion of large data centers across Texas is generating tensions between state agencies and local communities. Energy regulators are now calling for stricter controls over how these power-consuming facilities connect to the statewide electrical grid, while rural areas voice concerns that taxpayer incentives could compromise their access to dependable water

Amazon Web Services is planning a $1.2 billion data center campus in Wharton County, Texas, according to recent filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Located in Boling, approximately 60 miles southwest of Houston, the project involves constructing four buildings on a sprawling 2,700-acre parcel along Eaglewood Road. Each building is estimated

Texas is anticipated to lead the nation in the construction of natural gas power plants designed to supply electricity for artificial intelligence data centers, according to a new environmental assessment. The Environmental Integrity Project’s report identifies 32 proposed gas-fired power plants within Texas—the largest concentration in any state—amid the rapid expansion of technology companies seeking