Today’s headlines: Plutonium for nuclear power, data centers test climate tech, 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.

NUCLEAR

• The DOE chooses five nuclear power companies, including advanced nuclear firm Oklo and fusion startup Shine Technologies, to potentially use weapons-grade plutonium for power production. (CNN)

EMISSIONS

• The U.S. EPA may significantly alter its proposed rollback of fossil fuel power plant emissions rules in ways lawyers expect will leave some climate regulations in place. (E&E News)

DATA CENTERS

• Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft partner with nonprofit investor Elemental Impact to test clean technologies at their data centers, including energy storage and low-carbon building materials. (Axios)

• Utah residents and advocates initiate a referendum to overturn Box Elder County’s approval of the proposed Stratos data center, citing concerns about the project’s scale and energy and water consumption. (Utah News Dispatch)

GRID

• Competitive transmission projects are generally built faster and are less expensive than similar ones built by incumbent utilities in four U.S. grid areas, according to an analysis from a free market-oriented think tank. (Utility Dive)

• Texas is expected to host nearly 26 GW more power generation capacity this summer compared to last year, accounting for more than a third of the mostly solar, wind, and battery energy being added to U.S. generating capacity ahead of the season. (Utility Dive)

COAL

• Indiana utility NIPSCO estimates it has lost $11.5 million so far to keep two coal units online under federal orders. (Times of Northwest Indiana)

ELECTIONS

• Hard-right challenger Bo French declares victory over incumbent Jim Wright in the Republican primary for a seat on the powerful Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the oil and gas industry. (Texas Tribune, Politico)

• Three candidates running to serve on the Louisiana Public Service Commission advance from their party’s primaries to November’s general election for two open seats on the utility regulation board. (WWNO)