Today’s headlines: DOE’s biggest loan ever, Vineyard Wind closes in, 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.

FEDERAL FUNDING

• The DOE announces a $26.5 billion loan, its largest ever, to help Southern Co.’s Georgia and Alabama subsidiaries build new gas plants and transmission lines and upgrade existing power plants. (Associated Press)

• The DOE offers $171.5 million to support advanced geothermal exploration and development. (news release)

OFFSHORE WIND

• Iberdrola says it has installed 60 of 62 turbines at its Vineyard Wind project, and the last two will likely be completed in a matter of days. (E&E News)

DATA CENTERS

• Even some Republicans are questioning the specifics of President Donald Trump’s claim that his administration will ensure data centers don’t drive up residential electricity costs, as he promised in his State of the Union. (Politico)

• U.S. data centers could consume as much as 17% of the country’s power generation by 2030, the Electric Power Research Institute projects — a doubling of previous estimates. (E&E News)

NUCLEAR

• Fusion startup Shine Technologies raises $240 million as it looks to recycle nuclear waste into new fuel. (Heatmap)

PIPELINES

• FERC authorizes Williams Co. to start building a major gas pipeline in Virginia and North Carolina, despite concerns over the project’s redundancy with the Mountain Valley Pipeline. (E&E News)