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Anthropic, Microsoft Announce New AI Data Center Projects as Industry’s Construction Push Continues by Matt O’Brien

William Attardi on November 13, 2025

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic announced a $50 billion investment in computing infrastructure on Wednesday that will include new data centers in Texas and New York. Microsoft also on Wednesday announced a new data center under construction in Atlanta, Georgia, describing it as connected to another in Wisconsin to form a “massive supercomputer” running on hundreds of thousands of Nvidia chips to power AI technology. The latest deals show that the tech industry is moving forward on huge spending to build energy-hungry AI infrastructure, despite lingering financial concerns about a bubble, environmental considerationsand the political effects of fast-rising electricity bills in the communities where the massive buildings are constructed. Anthropic, Microsoft announce new AI data centers

Meta to Spend $600bn on US Data Centers by 2028

William Attardi on November 12, 2025

Meta claims it will spend $600 billion on digital infrastructure in the US over the next three years. Data centers are “crucial” to helping the company reach its goal of “building superintelligence for everyone” and “helping America maintain its technological edge,” the post said. Quite how Meta intends to fund this is unclear. The company posted annual revenue of $62.3 billion in 2024, and $600 billion figure is more than double the amount the firm has made during its 15 years as a public company. Meta has around 30 data center campuses in operation or development globally. Meta to spend $600bn on US data centers by 2028 – DCD

Trump Expands Critical Minerals List to Copper, Met Coal, Uranium

William Attardi on November 8, 2025

The Trump administration on Thursday added 10 minerals to a list it deems essential for the U.S. economy and national security, including copper, vital to electric vehicles, power grids, and data centers, and metallurgical coal, used to make coke fuel for steel production.  The Interior Department’s critical minerals list guides federal investments and permitting decisions and helps shape the government’s broader minerals strategy. The administration is expanding the list amid efforts to boost domestic mining and cut reliance on imports, particularly from economic rival China.  Trump expands critical minerals list to copper, met coal, uranium | Reuters

NAED Attends “Unleashing Alaska”

William Attardi on November 7, 2025

The event titled “Unleashing Alaska,” touched on recent Trump Administration efforts to unleash vast oil, gas, and mineral extraction in the state, and forward-looking efforts to craft durable policy by codifying permitting reform through efforts like the SPEED Act, which NAED supports. According to Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), today’s permitting bottlenecks have been estimated to delay $1.5 trillion in projects that are awaiting final approval.  Further, these delays are responsible for a 30% increase in construction costs for developments and $140 billion in lost annual revenue. These efforts, combined with broad-based permitting reform, have the potential to have significant impacts on America’s capacity to extract more oil, natural gas, and minerals in the future. NAED Attends “Unleashing Alaska” – electrifiED

Google Has a ‘Moonshot’ Plan for AI Data Centers in Space

William Attardi on November 6, 2025

Google has dreamed up a potential new way to get around resource constraints for energy-hungry AI data centers on Earth — launching its AI chips into space on solar-powered satellites. It’s a ‘moonshot’ research project Google announced today called Project Suncatcher. If it can ever get off the ground, the project would essentially create space-based data centers. Google hopes that by doing so, it can harness solar power around-the-clock. The dream is harnessing a near-unlimited source of clean energy that might allow the company to chase its AI ambitions without the concerns its data centers on Earth have raised when it comes to driving up power plant emissions and utility bills through soaring electricity demand. Google has a ‘moonshot’ plan for AI data centers in space | The Verge

Trump Meets with Xi, Declares Immediate Cut to Tariffs by Josh Chin Follow and Meridith McGraw

William Attardi on November 1, 2025

U.S.-China summit offers relief to both sides while high-stakes rivalry carries on. President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping emerged from their first face-to-face meeting in six years with a temporary truce in the bruising trade fight between the two superpowers. Their agreement lowers immediate tensions between the U.S. and China, which have been locked for months in a bitter struggle over trade and technology that has hurt both their economies. The agreement includes a reduction in stiff U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods in exchange for a pledge by China to crack down on the trade in the chemicals used to produce fentanyl. China also promised to ease the exports of rare earths—minerals that Western manufacturers rely on to make a range of goods. And Beijing promised to buy “tremendous amounts” of American soybeans.  Trump Meets With China’s Xi, Declares Immediate Tariff Cut – WSJ

Nvidia Becomes First $5 Trillion Company

William Attardi on November 1, 2025

It seems nothing can stop Nvidia. This week it became the first company ever to smash through a $5 trillion market value—thanks to a frenzy of AI deals spanning everyone from OpenAI and Oracle to Nokia and even drugmaker Eli Lilly. CEO Jensen Huang’s MAGA-friendly speech in D.C. also juiced gains. Sure, many are whispering “AI bubble,”but for now Nvidia is worth more than entire chunks of the S&P 500, like utilities, industrials or consumer staples. Basically, everything that doesn’t require a GPU.  Nvidia Becomes First $5 Trillion Company – WSJ

Commercial Construction Soars in September

William Attardi on November 1, 2025

Total construction starts were up +3.1% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.26 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts rose by +11.9%, residential starts improved +3.6%, and nonbuilding starts fell -6.2% over the month. On a year-to-date basis through September, total construction starts were up +3.5% from last year. Nonresidential starts were up +5%, residential starts were down -4.2% and nonbuilding starts were +10.8% higher over the same period. For the 12 months ending Sept. 2025, total construction starts were up +6.7% from the 12 months ending Sept. 2024. Residential starts were down -1.4%, nonresidential starts increased 6.8%, and nonbuilding starts were up +16.7% over the same period.  Commercial Construction Soars in September | Electrical Wholesaling

Significant Changes to Emergency Lighting Standards Strengthen Building Safety

William Attardi on November 1, 2025

The comprehensive review and revision of three key British Standards aim to enhance safety and compliance, as well as provide clearer, more consistent guidance for the design, installation, and maintenance of emergency lighting systems in public and commercial buildings. Emergency lighting is a vital life-saving measure, guiding occupants to safety during evacuations, power outages, or other emergencies. The revised standards address critical areas including system verification, illuminance requirements, circuit integrity under fire conditions, and documentation protocols, ensuring a higher level of safety and compliance across the built environment.  Significant changes to emergency lighting standards strengthen building safety – A1 Lighting Magazine

Microsoft CFO Highlights Record $35B in AI Infrastructure Spending

William Attardi on November 1, 2025

Microsoft CFO Amy Hood revealed a record $34.9 billion in infrastructure expenditures for the first quarter, emphasizing heavy investment in GPUs, CPUs, and datacenter infrastructure to meet surging demand for artificial intelligence. This capex figure significantly exceeded prior forecasts and reflects the company’s commitment to rapidly expanding capacity to support AI-driven growth and customer needs. Microsoft’s CFO Highlights Record Capex, OpenAI Deal in Internal Memo – Business Insider

The First Edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica Is Published on Dec. 10, 1768  The Encyclopedia Britannica, the oldest continuously published and revised work in the English language, was first made available to the public in Edinburgh, Scotland. This monumental work, which would go on to become a cornerstone of knowledge, marked the beginning of a publication that has influenced generations of scholars, students, and curious minds around the world.  The Encyclopædia Britannica was the brainchild of Colin Macfarquhar, a Scottish printer and bookseller, and Andrew Bell, a Scottish engraver. Together, they sought to create an authoritative, comprehensive, and accessible work that would encapsulate the growing body of knowledge of their time.  What began as a small printing project in Edinburgh grew into one of the most influential reference works in the world, providing access to knowledge and intellectual insight for generations, helping to shape the way we think about history, science, culture, and the world around us. Today, the Encyclopedia Britannica is regarded as one of the most influential reference works in the world. Our personal library to help us learn.  I hear  something better is coming along………