The Michigan Public Service Commission on Oct. 1 approved special electricity supply contracts between DTE Electric and Google for a data center planned in Van Buren Township, Wayne County, with provisions intended to ensure that other utility customers do not bear costs or financial risks associated with the project. The contracts include a 20-year primary…...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Sept. 29 approved PJM Interconnection’s proposed Reliability Backstop Procurement to secure additional electricity supply amid near-term reliability concerns, but suspended the measure for five months, delaying its effective date to Feb. 28, 2027. The action gives the regulator additional time to consider the procurement framework while placing the proposal…...
PJM Interconnection on Sept. 29 began its annual review of proposed large load adjustments for its 2027 Long-Term Load Forecast, applying updated guidelines intended to better assess the likelihood that proposed projects will materialize. The review comes as electricity demand across the region is rising rapidly, driven largely by data centers and other large electricity…...
The U.S. Energy Department on Sept. 24 announced its intention to fund 31 transmission upgrade projects across 26 states through its Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades, or SPARK, initiative providing $1.9 billion in federal funding alongside $3.35 billion in recipient cost-sharing. The funding package, totaling $5.25 billion,…...
New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Sept. 22 announced $1 billion in funding for the second installment of the Sustainable Future Program as part of a broader effort to lower energy costs, expand clean energy infrastructure, and prepare the state’s electric system for rising demand from manufacturing, electrification, and artificial intelligence. The announcement also introduced…...
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Sep. 21 directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to pause all permitting decisions for data center projects until the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) completes its audit of data centers advancing through its interconnection process, tightening oversight as the state reassesses the rapid expansion of large power users…....
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Sep. 20 signed a package of six clean transportation bills to accelerate electric vehicle charger deployment, expand access to EV charging infrastructure, and strengthen consumer protections for zero-emission vehicles. The legislation streamlines permitting for charging projects, modernizes inspection rules that can delay public chargers, expands charging access at multifamily housing…...
The New York Public Service Commission on Sep. 17 launched a statewide environmental review that could reshape how data centers and other large electricity users connect to the electric grid. The regulator issued a positive declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, allowing work to begin on a draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement while…...
The U.S. House of Representatives on Sep. 16 approved the Ratepayer Protection Act, sending legislation to the Senate that would require large electricity customers to bear the full cost of grid upgrades built specifically to serve their facilities. The measure passed with broad bipartisan support, reflecting growing concern that the rapid expansion of data centers…...
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Sep. 14 directed the Texas Water Development Board to enforce mandatory water reporting requirements for major water users, including data centers, after determining some facilities may have violated state law by failing to disclose water consumption. The action strengthens oversight of one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity demand by…...
