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SpaceX Plans to Power $16.8B Terafab Without the Grid by Shane Snider

William Attardi on August 12, 2026

SpaceX plans to power its massive Terafab semiconductor and advanced-computing campus in Grimes County, Texas, with onsite generation and battery storage rather than electricity from the grid, according to a fully executed tax-abatement agreement with the county.  The agreement states that the facilities, once operational, “are expected to be powered by electricity generated by on-site power plant(s) and are not expected to use electricity from the grid.”  SpaceX plans to build natural gas-fired power plants and large battery arrays. SpaceX Plans to Power $16.8B Terafab Without the Grid

The US Sets Record Energy Production in 2025

William Attardi on May 14, 2026

Total energy production in the United States increased to a new record of 107 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) in 2025, a 3.4% increase from the previous record set in 2024, according to new data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest Monthly Energy Review. Total production was driven by record-high production in natural gas, crude oil, natural gas plant liquids (NGPLs), and renewables. This was the fourth consecutive year in which the United States set a record for total energy production. Coal accounted for 10% of domestic energy production in 2025. The US Sets Record Energy Production in 2025 – tEDmag

Dallas Fed Survey: War Uncertainty Capping Firms’ Ambitions by Geert De Lombaerde

William Attardi on March 27, 2026

Seven out of 10 oil-and-gas executives surveyed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas think the price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), which flirted with $100 in the last 2 weeks, will finish 2026 below $80. But with the war with Iran “wreaking havoc” in commodity markets, most firms aren’t rushing to overhaul their 2026 production plans.Fed researchers’ quarterly survey of industry players from about 130 companies in Texas and parts of Louisiana and New Mexico showed that the average WTI price forecast for year-end is around $74. That’s up significantly from the $62 outlook from 3 months ago and well below the roughly $94/bbl at which WTI was being priced during the Fed’s survey period earlier this month. At $74, WTI would also be at a price high enough for most production to be profitable. Executives are more positive about the mid- and longer-term price outlook for natural gas than they are for oil. Dallas Fed survey: War uncertainty capping firms’ ambitions | Oil & Gas Journal

For more details from the survey, click here.

US Energy Department Reorganization Signals Major Policy Shift to Nuclear and Gas

William Attardi on January 24, 2026

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a significant shift in its energy policy, moving away from renewable energy sources like solar and wind and towards baseload power sources such as natural gas and nuclear power. This decision involves the reorganization of nearly $84 billion in loans and conditional commitments, with approximately $9.5 billion in subsidies for wind and solar projects being eliminated. The DOE’s new focus is on supporting the private sector through energy projects that provide consistent power rather than intermittent generation. This shift is part of a broader policy to enhance energy security and domestic production, as outlined by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. US Energy Department Reorganization Signals Major Policy Shift to Nuclear and Gas → Energy

Coal Plant to be Transformed into Gas-Powered Data Center Campus

William Attardi on April 10, 2025

 Homer City Redevelopment (HCR) and Kiewit Power Constructors Co. (Kiewit) announced the future of the former Homer City Generating Station. Homer City – previously the largest coal-burning power plant in Pennsylvania – will be transformed into a more than 3,200-acre natural gas-powered data center campus, designed to meet the growing artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) needs of the innovative technology companies shaping America’s digital future. GE Vernovawill provide seven high-efficiency 7HA.02 hydrogen-enabled, gas-fired turbines, with the first deliveries expected to begin in 2026.  Coal Plant to be Transformed into Gas-Powered Data Center Campus – electrifiED

Interesting: The Three Pillars of Independence of an Organization

The 3 Pillars of Independence most commonly refers to a framework from the UK voluntary sector (specifically promoted by organizations like Bond and the Directory of Social Change). It is a toolkit for assessing and maintaining the independence of charities, NGOs, or civil society organizations.

The Three Pillars are:

  1. Independent of Party Politics – The organization (or regulator) must remain free from bias or influence by any political party or the government of the day. Decisions should be impartial, not favoring one political side.
  2. Independent of Populism – It should not be swayed by popular public opinion, media-driven campaigns, or transient public pressure, especially on controversial or unpopular causes.
  3. Independent of the Press – Freedom from media influence or pressure, ensuring decisions are based on evidence and law rather than headlines or public narratives.

This toolkit was created to monitor potential political encroachment on charitable regulation and to ensure charities can operate without undue external interference.

 

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