Trump rejects stronger AI guardrails as data-center debate grows
President Trump rejected broader AI guardrails as industry leaders urged caution, intensifying a national fight over safety, security, competition and power demand.
data centers
-
-
Memphis City Council’s proposed data-center moratorium faces final vote Tuesday
Memphis City Council is scheduled to take final action September 15 on Ordinance No. 5982, a proposed 12-month pause on specified approvals for new data-center and high-density-computing facilities.
-
Pennsylvania regulators examine who pays for data-center grid growth
Pennsylvania regulators are reviewing data-center grid costs and emergency rules, but no household rate change follows yet from the September 10 votes.
-
San Jose weighs limits on nondisclosure agreements for officials as data center debate grows
A San Jose committee unanimously backed developing policy options on private NDAs as data center and other large-energy-use projects remain under city review.
-
Indianapolis orders east-side data-center construction to stop over missing permits
Indianapolis ordered work stopped at the proposed DC BLOX site on September 10 after inspectors found dirt placement and foundation leveling underway without required permits.
-
Texas revises ERCOT review timeline for data-center projects
Texas regulators gave ERCOT more time to verify large-load projects after the Aug. 7 deadline was missed; conditional classifications are due Aug. 31.
-
House panel to examine who pays for data centers’ water demands
A House hearing will examine draft measures on drinking-water systems and data-center costs, including whether developers or households should pay for upgrades.
-
Charlotte launches public survey as data-center moratorium enters its policy-writing phase
Charlotte is seeking resident input through October 2 as a task force develops possible data-center rules before the city’s November 5 moratorium deadline.
-
AI Data Centers Become a National Fight Over Power and Local Control
A federal grid-security order, FERC proceedings and Texas oversight are colliding with local concerns about AI data centers, power costs, water and land.
-
Austin City Council starts drafting rules for large-scale data centers
Austin City Council launched a process to regulate data centers, with possible rules for siting, power, water, noise, lighting and hyperscale facilities.
-
PJM Market Monitor Links Data Centers to $10.48/MWh in 2026 Costs
PJM’s market monitor attributed 9% of wholesale power costs through July to existing and forecast data-center demand, while warning of reliability pressures.
-
NERC Seeks Comments on Reliability Rules for AI Data Centers and Other Large Loads
NERC is taking comments through September 18 on draft reliability standards for AI data centers, crypto facilities and other large computational loads.
-
Emerald AI Raises $150 Million in Series A for Grid Software
Emerald AI’s $150 million Series A signals investor interest in software that could help data centers manage power demand as U.S. grid constraints grow.
-
Expired DOE Order Shows Summer Grid Risks Across 17 States
A July heat emergency order for the Southwest Power Pool has expired, but it showed how peak demand, data centers and transmission limits are reshaping grid planning.
-
Georgia regulators review OpenAI power contract for Effingham County data center
Georgia Power filed a proposed 25-year, 3,200-megawatt OpenAI agreement with the PSC. The review does not approve the data center, and key ratepayer protections remain under scrutiny.
-
Virginia groundwater report puts eastern aquifers and data-center growth under scrutiny
A delayed Virginia groundwater analysis warns that eastern aquifers are constrained and projected to decline, raising questions about data centers, private wells, utilities and future state action.
-
Conover joins Catawba County update on Microsoft data-center development
A June 23 update says Microsoft’s planned Catawba County project has progressed and that questions about land use, utilities, taxes and infrastructure are growing.
-
Tonawanda adopts one-year pause on large data-center applications
The Town of Tonawanda has adopted a one-year moratorium on data centers requiring at least 20 megawatts, giving officials time to develop zoning rules for the industry.
-
Marietta council schedules Aug. 12 vote on data-center rezoning
Marietta City Council is scheduled to vote Aug. 12, 2026, on a rezoning request for a proposed data infrastructure facility at 1155 Powers Ferry Place.
-
Marietta Council Sets August Vote on Powers Ferry Data Center Rezoning
Marietta City Council is set to consider a rezoning for a proposed data center at 1155 Powers Ferry Place after an Aug. 10 work session.
-
Hayward commission approves hyperscale data-center project
Hayward’s Planning Commission approved a large hyperscale data-center project after a July hearing, drawing concerns about power demand, scale and city oversight.
-
Salem considers data-center moratorium as Mill Creek project advances
Salem officials are discussing possible restrictions on new data centers as Verrus begins city review of a proposed $5.1 billion project at Mill Creek.