Today’s headlines: Data center demand projections are soaring, and more

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

• BloombergNEF estimates U.S. data centers will account for 20% of the country’s power consumption by 2035, up from 5.9% today — an expansion that analysts say can’t be met even by maxing out new power generation additions to the grid and adding on-site gas generation. (Bloomberg)

• Back in May, Elon Musk quietly purchased APR Energy, which operates more than 1 GW of mobile gas and diesel turbines, as his company xAI continues to use portable generators to power its Memphis data centers. (Electrek)

• A new poll finds 41% of Americans say they’d oppose a data center being built within three miles of their homes, up from 28% in a January survey. (Politico)

EFFICIENCY

• The Trump administration continues to defund federal energy-efficiency programs even as conflict with Iran and a resulting global energy crisis continues, exacerbating the need to lower power demand. (New York Times)

SOLAR

• Solar developers reduced power purchase agreement prices in the second quarter of 2026, but the end of federal tax credits could drive them back up again. (E&E News)

• More states are switching from net metering to net billing systems for buying back excess power from residential solar systems, often leading to lower payments for solar owners. (New York Times)

PERMITTING

• The Trump administration’s repeal of the Public Lands Rule earlier this year was meant to boost oil and gas drilling on federal property, but it simultaneously eliminated a mechanism that could’ve paved the way for more renewables, transmission, and geothermal development. (Latitude Media)

TARIFFS

• The White House moves to impose 50% tariffs on most Canadian imports, though energy products and critical minerals are excluded from the levies. (Associated Press)

GEOTHERMAL

• The U.S. House passes legislation that would accelerate next-generation geothermal research and commercialization. (E&E News)

EMISSIONS

• In the rural stretch of Louisiana known as Cancer Alley, public air monitors are often located far away from industrial polluters like refineries, and many don’t test for especially dangerous chemicals. (Floodlight)

GRID

• Texas grid operator ERCOT anticipates the state will set all-time power demand records today and tomorrow. (Bloomberg)