Data centers

Data centers are officially shaping election season

Data center opponents are winning primaries, and governors are instituting moratoriums — but will the action last beyond Election Day?

By Kathryn Krawczyk . 14 August 2026

Construction workers on orange cherry pickers amid scaffolding near a data center wall being built — Data centers are quickly rising in Virginia, but developers are also looking to Midwestern states for further expansion. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images)

Data centers

PJM’s big new data center plan: Make the states figure it out

Grid operator PJM wants states and utilities to hold data centers responsible for buying their own power — or risk being cut off from grid service.

By Jeff St. John . 5 August 2026
Data centers

Data centers take center stage in Wisconsin governor’s race

As the AI buildout spikes energy demand, Democrats and one Republican offer solutions ranging from ramping up clean energy to instituting ratepayer protections.

By Kari Lydersen . 4 August 2026
Climatetech finance

Antora snags $550M for heat batteries to run data centers and factories

As the California firm boots up a giant thermal battery system in South Dakota, fresh funds will help it build a second U.S. factory and more large-scale projects.

By Maria Gallucci . 30 July 2026
Batteries

Biggest battery east of the Mississippi will help power AI complex

The 1-GWh battery project in Ohio will help suppress power prices and reduce grid strain from a nearby data center hub. The region could use a lot more systems like it.

By Julian Spector . 29 July 2026
Data centers

Data center demand is soaring, and off-grid gas won't fix the problem

As tech firms look to build their own gas generators, a new report reveals that likely won’t be enough to avoid a hefty power shortfall in the coming years.

By Kathryn Krawczyk . 24 July 2026
Data centers

PJM’s old way of getting power built isn’t working. Has it found a fix?

Getting data centers to pay for new generation and batteries could be the best hope for the nation’s biggest power market to finally get a handle on costs.

By Jeff St. John . 17 July 2026
Data centers

New Jersey law will let data centers pay for home energy upgrades

In a first, the state could speed up data centers’ grid connection if they bankroll energy-saving residential tech like heat pumps and batteries.

By Alison F. Takemura . 16 July 2026
Corporate procurement

Google buys power from record-busting solar-battery site in Arkansas

Developer Cypress Creek has broken ground on the project, which will eventually deliver 2.5 gigawatts of solar production and 2.9 gigawatt-hours of battery storage.

By Julian Spector . 15 July 2026
Data centers

Duke Energy proposes special rules for data centers in North Carolina

After insisting it wasn’t needed, Duke pitched a "large load tariff" for big energy users — a concession to critics before a hearing on its proposed rate hike.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 6 July 2026
Data centers

Data centers use more power in the US than in any other country

Last year, nearly 40% of all power demand from global data centers came from facilities based in America, per a new report.

By Dan McCarthy . 3 July 2026