Data centers’ coming demand, Iran war inspires clean installations, and more headlines

This roundup of U.S. energy news headlines is part of our Canary Media Daily newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

DATA CENTERS

• A new report from the United Nations’ research arm finds that by 2030, data centers’ global electricity demand could be equivalent to that of the sixth-largest power-consuming country. (Axios)

• The New York legislature passes a one-year moratorium on data center development to give the state time to determine what regulations are needed on energy and water use. (News 10)

CLEAN ENERGY

• The Iran war and resulting global fossil fuel shortages have inspired people around the world to install solar panels and batteries at their homes to avoid outages and sky-high power prices. (Bloomberg)

BATTERIES

• Chinese solar manufacturers look to expand into battery production as panel sales slow and prices sink. (Reuters)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signs legislation requiring automakers to establish a statewide EV battery recycling program and banning landfills from accepting the devices. (CPR)

• Massachusetts is yet to install a single EV charger using $64 million in federal funds it was awarded for that purpose four years ago: ​“The slowness of adoption here is mystifying.” (CommonWealth Beacon)

GRID

• Massachusetts and Minnesota are among the states working to create virtual power plants that can reduce strain on the grid at a lower cost than building out generation. (Inside Climate News)

• Texas’ grid operator says it expects a low risk of blackouts this summer despite anticipated record-high power demand, thanks to new rules that curb large power users during times of grid strain. (Houston Chronicle)

• The CEOs of Michigan’s two major investor-owned utilities question whether they can meet the 2040 timeline for the state’s 100% clean energy target as data centers drive up power demand. (Crain’s Detroit)

FOSSIL FUELS

• The federal Bureau of Land Management opens its oil and gas lease sale for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, drawing rebukes from environmental advocates nationwide. (Re:Public)

• The oil industry is reportedly warning the White House that severe price spikes may arise in the coming weeks as the Strait of Hormuz’s closure drains inventory. (Politico)

• Rocky Mountain Power officials support the Trump administration’s proposal to eliminate an Obama-era rule requiring the Dave Johnston coal plant’s Unit 3 to shut down in 2027, citing an increase in power demand. (Oil City News)

NUCLEAR

• Anatres Nuclear’s sodium-cooled microreactor becomes the first advanced nuclear reactor to reach criticality under a DOE pilot program. (Power)