Data center news covering hyperscale buildouts, AI infrastructure demand, power and cooling, colocation providers, and data center economics.
The U.S. Department of Energy unveiled a $100-billion plan to convert a former nuclear site in Kentucky into a major AI data center hub. Brookfield and NextEra Energy are leading the construction of the facility, expected to be operational by 2032.
Governor Tina Kotek ordered a pause on new air and water permitting for data centers through July 2027. Opponents argue the industry causes environmental damage while collecting over $450 million in tax breaks. Republican candidate Christine Drazan had previously called for an immediate moratorium against special treatment for these facilities.
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink warned that a moratorium on U.S. data center construction could trigger a national recession, dismissing environmental concerns as misinformation. This follows similar warnings from Goldman Sachs regarding political risks to AI infrastructure investment.
The article contends that opposition to data centre expansion is fostering unexpected bipartisan cooperation among US Democrats and Republicans. It highlights how concerns over resource usage and local impact are uniting communities across party lines against tech industry growth.
U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum pitched Fairbanks as a location for large-scale AI data centers and foreign energy investment, highlighting cold-climate cooling advantages. This pitch comes days after a local power emergency declaration and contradicts South Korea's statement that no decision has been made on investing in the Alaska LNG pipeline.
The Financial Times Lex column argues that investor appetite for data centre initial public offerings is nearing its limit. The commentary suggests that market saturation and valuation concerns are constraining further growth in this sector, signaling a potential cooling of investment enthusiasm for large-scale infrastructure projects.
IDC projects worldwide spending on Open Compute Project recognized IT equipment will hit approximately US$800 billion by 2029. This new estimate nearly triples previous projections, signaling massive growth in specialized infrastructure demand.
American Electric Power plans a $4 billion investment in the Cheyenne Fuel Cell project in Wyoming to supply power to Google under a 20-year agreement. The facility, largely owned by AEP, aims to meet growing energy demands from Alphabet's expanding operations.
The article argues that massive data center construction in Texas and New Mexico threatens to undermine recent state climate change plans. It contends that these energy-intensive facilities, including projects by Oracle and Meta, were excluded from emissions reduction strategies, potentially reversing significant environmental progress.
Delta Electronics Inc expects to ship 100 solid-state transformer units by the end of 2026, with significantly higher volumes anticipated in 2028 due to soaring data center demand. The company also displayed its first physical solid-state transformer product and partnered with Great Taipei Gas for a 550kW SOFC installation.