Data centers

Utilities

How data centers can move fast without breaking things

A new analysis shows that developers and utilities can speed grid connections and lower costs by planning ahead for data centers to be flexible in their power use.

By Jeff St. John . 9 October 2025
Geothermal

XGS Energy says its advanced geothermal tech is ready to scale up

The startup successfully operated a geothermal system for over 3,000 hours. The results should help it finance its first commercial deal: a 150-MW plant for Meta.

By Maria Gallucci . 30 September 2025
Batteries

Carrier wants to pair batteries with air conditioners to help the grid

Utilities are struggling to meet demand as AI data centers surge. Equipping air conditioners with batteries could be an easy and hugely scalable way to free up electricity supply at peak times.

By Julian Spector . 29 September 2025
Green steel

Sweden’s Stegra to supply green steel for Microsoft’s data centers

Microsoft agreed to use “near-zero emission” steel in a two-part deal with Stegra. The steelmaker plans to open its hydrogen-fueled plant in late 2026.

By Maria Gallucci . 25 September 2025
Utilities

Utilities are doing even worse on climate than they were five years ago

Major U.S. utilities earn an "F" on a new report card because they're planning to build far too little clean energy and far too many gas-fired power plants.

By Jeff St. John . 22 September 2025
Utilities

As data centers go up, North Carolina weighs how to handle energy demand

Duke wants to build gas plants, but clean energy advocates argue that solar, battery storage, and demand response could help alleviate growing strain on the grid.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 16 September 2025
Utilities

Virginia’s data center boom tests clean energy law

Exploding electricity needs are pushing Virginia's largest utility to seek new gas plants — despite a state mandate to eliminate fossil fuels by 2045.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 4 September 2025
Utilities

Google’s new plan to keep its data centers from stressing the grid

AI data centers are set to swamp U.S. power grids. Google’s new utility deals aim to flip the script — shifting workloads to ease strain and speed its access to energy.

By Jeff St. John . 28 August 2025
Distributed energy resources

A universal adapter for solar, batteries, EVs, and microgrids is here

DG Matrix and Resilient Power say their solid-state transformers can cut costs, time, and complexity for powering data centers, EV charging hubs, and more.

By Jeff St. John . 18 August 2025
Clean industry

Tech giants look to low-carbon cement to curb their huge climate impact

Cement startups Sublime Systems and Brimstone both announced new partnerships with data-center developers and operators — even as federal funding dries up.

By Maria Gallucci . 8 August 2025