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AI Is Outpacing America’s Power Grid. Nuclear Must Become a National Priority by Mark Whitney

William Attardi on March 6, 2026

Nuclear energy is an immediate, national strategic imperative. Advanced nuclear technologies, including smaller, faster-to-build reactors, deliver reliable, scalable and zero-carbon power. Unlike wind or solar, nuclear operates 24/7, which is exactly what hyperscale AI data centers require. The early movers are acting:

The message is clear: secure dependable, carbon-free power now, or face capacity shortages and rising costs. AI is outpacing America’s power grid. Nuclear must become a national priority. | Utility Dive

Guess How Much Big Tech Will Spend on AI This Year

William Attardi on February 7, 2026

Four of the largest tech companies in the world project that they’ll spend roughly $650 billion combined on AI infrastructure in 2026, representing a historic ball-out for corporate capital expenditures, Bloomberg reported Here’s who’s spending what:

  • Taking the cake, Amazon announced Thursday that it’s planning to drop $200 billion on AI, chips, robotics, and satellites.
  • A day earlier, Alphabet said its capital expenditures could reach $185 billion, blowing past estimates.
  • Last week, Meta pegged its capex as high as $135 billion—an 87% jump from the year prior—driven by the company’s goal of achieving AI superintelligence.
  • Microsoft is expected to spend nearly $105 billion during its fiscal year ending in June.

Big Tech to spend $650 billion on AI in 2026, per Bloomberg

Microsoft, Google among 24 firms joining US AI ‘Genesis Mission’ by Courtney Subramanian

William Attardi on December 18, 2025

Two dozen top artificial intelligence companies have signed on to join the federal government’s “Genesis Mission,” an effort by the Trump administration to boost the use of the emerging technology for scientific discovery and energy projects. OpenAI, Microsoft Corp., Nvidia Corp., Amazon Web Services and Alphabet Inc.’s Google were among the firms that have either already signed memorandums of understanding with the government, have existing projects with the Energy Department or national laboratories, or have expressed interest in joining the effort, according to a White House statement. The mission will harness the computing resources of the Energy Department’s national labs to tap federal datasets and enable more experiments utilizing AI, Michael Kratsios said at the time. He predicted the effort would help shorten the timeline for scientific discoveries. Microsoft, Google among 24 firms joining US AI ‘Genesis Mission’

Google and Siemens Invest in Electrical Training to Support Future Infrastructure Needs by Tom Zind

William Attardi on December 9, 2025

Google and Siemens are investing heavily in electrical training programs to combat a looming shortage of skilled electrical workers. Key Takeaways:

  • Google plans to fund training for 130,000 total electrical workers and apprentices, leveraging AI and virtual reality to modernize education.
  • Siemens aims to add 200,000 electricians and manufacturing experts by 2030 through expanded partnerships and digital training tools.
  • Both companies emphasize the critical role of industry collaboration and innovative training methods to address future workforce shortages.
  • These efforts highlight a proactive approach to workforce development in response to industry growth and technological advancements.

Google and Siemens Invest in Electrical Training to Support Future Infrastructure Needs | EC&M

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

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

Google Invests $9B to Expand AI Infrastructure in South Carolina

William Attardi on October 21, 2025

Google is announcing a new $9 billion investment in South Carolina through 2027. This funding will expand Google’s Berkeley County data center campus and support the continued construction of two new sites in Dorchester County, strengthening the state’s role as a critical hub for American infrastructure. As we deepen our roots in the Palmetto State, we’re creating new jobs, helping to power the state’s digital economy for years to come, and advancing the U.S. as a world leader in AI innovation. Google Invests $9B to Expand AI Infrastructure in South Carolina – electrifiED

Google Announces $15B Investment in AI Hub in India by Rajesh Roy

William Attardi on October 16, 2025

Google announced on Tuesday that it will invest $15 billion in India over the next five years to establish its first artificial intelligence hub in the country. Located in the southern city of Visakhapatnam, the hub will be one of Google’s largest globally. It will feature gigawatt-scale data center operations, extensive energy infrastructure, and an expanded fiber-optic network, the company said in a statement. The investment underscores Google’s growing reliance on India as a key technology and talent base in the global race for AI dominance. For India, it brings in high-value infrastructure and foreign investment at a scale that can accelerate its digital transformation ambitions. Google Announces $15B Investment in AI Hub in India – electrifiED

The Radical Changes That Are Making Your Smart Home Less Dumb

William Attardi on October 10, 2025

Most homes are “smart”. Now that they’re getting a generative-AI overhaul, the question is: Can we get more out of devices that until now have been great at setting kitchen timers, reading the weather and playing music?  Amazon’s Alexa+ and Google’s Gemini aim to fix that, by making smart homes less dumb. The tech giants introduced new speakers, home displays and cameras this week to capitalize on their evolved assistants, but most existing devices are also compatible. Gemini for Home arrives at the end of the month, and Amazon says 10 million households already have early access to Alexa+. As we wait for Apple’s Siri to catch up—and we’re hoping for news sometime next year—here are the three big changes coming to our homes right now.

    1. Cameras that tell you what’s happening
    2. Speakers that have real conversations
    3. Automation without the app headache

Your Smart Home’s AI Upgrade: Alexa+, Ring ‘Search Party,’ Google’s Gemini for Home and More – WSJ

DOE Announces Accelerated Siting of Data Centers

William Attardi on May 29, 2025

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Elementl Power have teamed up to advance a data-driven siting approach for advanced nuclear projects. The work started through a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) GAIN voucher and contributed to Elementl’s recent agreement with Google to prepare three U.S. sites for advanced nuclear deployment. Each site would have at least 600 megawatts of capacity and would likely be used to power large-scale data centers. Nuclear energy can provide around-the-clock abundant and reliable electricity, making it an attractive solution to meet rising energy demand from AI and data centers. Google will provide early-stage capital to develop three sites for advanced reactor projects with final technology selection and site confirmation pending further development milestones. DOE Announces Accelerated Siting of Data Centers – electrifiED

The Statue of Liberty was made with copper but due to oxidation, it turned green.

When the “Lady in the Harbor” first arrived in New York in 1886, she didn’t look like the mint-green icon we know today. In fact, for the first twenty years of her life, she stood as a towering, metallic beacon of reddish-gold. Designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the statue was a gift from France to America. To build her, Bartholdi chose copper for three practical reasons:

  • Malleability:It could be hammered into elaborate, thin sheets.
  • Weight:Copper is lighter than stone or bronze, making it easier to ship 350 individual pieces across the Atlantic.
  • Durability:It was strong enough to survive a 27-day ocean voyage and the harsh winds of the harbor.

When she was unveiled on October 28, 1886, her skin—made of 300 copper sheets roughly the thickness of two pennies—shone with a bright, metallic brown luster. The transformation from “penny-colored” to “patina-green” wasn’t planned. Bartholdi actually expected the statue to age into a deeper, darker red. However, the unique environment of New York Harbor—a mix of salt air, moisture, and industrial pollution—triggered a process called oxidation.

The Timeline of Change:

  1. 1886–1900:The bright copper dulled into a dark, muddy brown.
  2. 1903:The first hints of a light green crust, or “patina,” began to appear.
  3. 1906:The color change was so controversial that Congress nearly stepped in. They appropriated $62,000 to paint the statue back to its original color, but the public protested, calling the idea “sacrilege.”
  4. 1910–1920:The statue was a patchy mix of brown and green until 1920, when the oxidation was complete, leaving her entirely teal.

While we now view the green color as iconic, it actually serves a vital structural purpose. The layer of verdigris (the green patina) acts as a protective shield. It seals the copper underneath, preventing the metal from further corrosion and weathering.  By the time the color fully changed, a new generation of immigrants had arrived in America seeing a green statue.