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.
data centers
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Knoxville council advances housing, waterfront and data-center policies
Knoxville City Council backed affordable housing at the St. Mary’s site, advanced a North Waterfront plan and approved a data-center moratorium.
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DOE Opens 60-Day Review of National Transmission Needs as Grid Demand Accelerates
The Energy Department released a draft national transmission study and opened a 60-day public-comment period as U.S. electricity generation rises and grid demand grows.
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Grayslake data-center campus faces legal challenge after village approval
Residents have filed a lawsuit seeking to block Grayslake’s approved T5 data-center campus, a proposed 472-acre development that could include up to 18 buildings and more than 10 million square feet.
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Columbia County announces Google-Georgia Power partnership on data-center costs
Columbia County says a new partnership with Google and Georgia Power will place restrictions on data-center growth and utility impacts to help protect local ratepayers.
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New Carlisle temporarily bans new dispensaries, vape shops, data centers and solar farms
New Carlisle has temporarily restricted four types of new businesses and development while city leaders work on future planning rules and seek resident input.
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Lawrence imposes two-year moratorium on new data centers
The Lawrence City Commission approved a two-year pause on data-center development July 14 while the city studies impacts and prepares local regulations.