Today’s headlines: Trump leverages wind for permitting bill, data centers could erase emissions progress, 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.

PERMITTING BILL

• An analysis from nonpartisan think tank Resources for the Future finds the Senate permitting bill would drive ​“robust” transmission construction, enabling more clean energy development and the expanded use of existing power generation and grid resources. (Axios, report)
• The Trump administration is letting select onshore wind projects move forward as a concession to Democrats to advance the permitting bill, though at least some of the Defense Department-approved projects are low level, essentially representing uprates of existing wind farms at their same locations. (Bloomberg, Punchbowl News)
• A coalition of transmission, nuclear, geothermal, and other energy developers and funders signs on to a letter endorsing the permitting bill, saying it’s essential to keeping America competitive in their industries. (letter)

DATA CENTERS

• The Sierra Club estimates the U.S. power sector would emit 2.1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2030 if planned data centers projects are built, canceling out 15 years of power-sector emissions declines, though the future of many of those AI projects remains cloudy. (Bloomberg)
• Some data center developers who have built their own behind-the-meter gas turbines are struggling to keep the power flowing, as they lack on-site mechanics to maintain and fix systems, and face the heat of rising fuel prices. (Latitude Media)

CLIMATE

• A new global assessment from the Lancet finds climate-related health threats, including extreme heat and drought, increased more rapidly in the past decade than the decade before, even as countries accelerated their climate and clean energy plans. (Bloomberg)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Vessev, an all-electric hydrofoil boat company that’s transporting passengers in New Zealand, is expanding to the U.S. with a service on Lake Tahoe. (The Guardian)

BATTERIES

• A small group of startups are developing thermal battery systems that store large amounts of heat, then release it on demand to replace the need for fossil fuel burning in industrial processes. (New York Times)

MATERIALS

• Fortera signs a multiyear agreement with Meta to provide environmental attribute certificates for 200,000 tons of its low-carbon cement, a deal that will support construction of Fortera’s Missouri cement plant. (Carbon Herald)