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Study: Self-Powered Data Centers Can Speed Grid Connection

William Attardi on December 5, 2025

Data centers with on-site power sources, such as natural gas turbines, solar panels and batteries, can connect to the grid up to five years faster than those relying solely on utilities, according to a study from Princeton University’s ZERO Lab, Camus Energy, and encoord. The study notes that self-powered data centers can reduce demand stress during emergencies, with Google funding the research to explore the benefits of more flexible data centers. Full Story: Utility Dive

Google to Invest $40B in AI Data Centers, Workforce Training Across Texas by Claire Hao, James Osborne

William Attardi on November 15, 2025

Google plans to invest $40 billion into artificial intelligence data centers and related workforce training across Texas through 2027. That includes plans to build three new data centers – two in Haskell County and one in Armstrong County. It’s the latest massive investment from tech giants racing to surpass each other in the development of artificial intelligence. Amid this rush, Texas has emerged as one of the most attractive states for new data centers, given its ample land, relatively cheap electricity for large industrial users and abundant energy resources.  Google to invest $40B in AI data centers, workforce training across Texas

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

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

Consortium Acquires Aligned Data Centers in $40B Deal by Michelle Chapman

William Attardi on October 21, 2025

A group including BlackRock, Nvidia, and Microsoft is buying Aligned Data Centers in an approximately $40 billion deal in an effort to expand next-generation cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure. The acquisition comes amid a flurry of deals in recent months involving top AI developers that are flooding the booming AI sector with resources and money, and addressing resources — such as electricity and infrastructure — needed to support such technology. Last month, OpenAI and Nvidia announced a $100 billion partnership that will add at least 10 gigawatts of data center computing power.  Consortium Acquires Aligned Data Centers in $40B Deal – electrifiED

US Power Use to Reach Record Highs in 2025 and 2026, EIA Says by Scott Disavino

William Attardi on October 8, 2025

US power consumption is expected to reach record highs in 2025 and 2026, according to the Energy Information Administration, driven by data centers for AI and cryptocurrency and increased electrification in homes and businesses. The EIA projects a decrease in natural gas’s share of power generation from 42% in 2024 to 40% in 2025 and 2026, while renewables are expected to rise from 23% to 26% over the same period. US power use to reach record highs in 2025 and 2026, EIA says | Reuters

PG&E Unveils $73 Billion Spending Plan to Meet Surging Data-Center Energy Demand

William Attardi on September 30, 2025

PG&E plans to invest $73 billion by 2030 to upgrade transmission infrastructure to accommodate a surge in electricity demand from data centers. The utility is working to serve 10 gigawatts of new demand over the next decade, driven by AI and other technologies. The plan also includes nearly 700 miles of underground power lines and 500 miles of wildfire safety upgrades. PG&E unveils $73 billion spending plan to meet surging data-center energy demand | Reuters

DOE Launches Speed to Power Initiative to Accelerate Grid Infrastructure Development

William Attardi on September 26, 2025

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Speed to Power initiative aims to fast-track large-scale transmission and generation projects to meet rising energy needs, support AI and data centers, and ensure grid reliability by 2030.  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has introduced the Speed to Power initiative, aimed at expediting the development of large-scale grid infrastructure projects for both transmission and generation. The program is intended to help meet rising energy demand while supporting the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers. As part of the launch, DOE is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on large-scale transmission and generation projects. The agency is asking for feedback on near-term investment opportunities, project readiness, expected load growth, and infrastructure constraints. Responses due November 21, 2025  https://www.energy.gov/speed-to-power  The goal is to determine how DOE funding programs and authorities can be applied to accelerate grid capacity expansion. DOE Launches Speed to Power Initiative to Accelerate Grid Infrastructure Development | T&D World

Nvidia to Invest $100 Billion in OpenAI to Help Expand the ChatGPT Maker’s Computing Power

William Attardi on September 23, 2025

Chipmaker Nvidia will invest $100 billion in OpenAI as part of a partnership announced Monday that will add at least 10 gigawatts of Nvidia AI data centers to ramp up the computing power for the owner of the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT. Per the letter of intent signed by the companies, the first gigawatt of Nvidia systems will be deployed in the second half of 2026. Nvidia and OpenAI said they would be finalizing the details of the arrangement in the coming weeks. The Nvidia-OpenAI partnership also comes about 10 days after OpenAI said it had reached a new tentative agreement that will give Microsoft a $100 billion equity stake in its for-profit corporation. OpenAI is technically controlled by its nonprofit. OpenAI says it has 700 million weekly active users. Nvidia to invest $100 billion in OpenAI to help expand ChatGPT maker’s computing power | AP News

Remembering the Solemn Purpose of Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the last Monday in May to honor and mourn U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. The holiday traces its roots to the years immediately following the American Civil War (1861–1865), which caused massive casualties—roughly 620,000 soldiers dead, about 2% of the U.S. population at the time. Communities across the North and South began spontaneously decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, wreaths, and flags, a practice that gave rise to the original name: Decoration Day. On May 5, 1868, Major General John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)—a powerful Union veterans’ organization—issued General Order No. 11. This proclaimed May 30, 1868, as a nationwide “Decoration Day” to honor those who died in the Civil War. After World War I, the holiday expanded to honor all American service members who died in any war, not just the Civil War.  In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act to create more three-day weekends for federal employees. This moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, effective in 1971, when it was also officially named “Memorial Day.” As one 1868 quote put it: “That Nation which respects and honors its dead, shall ever be respected and honored itself.”