2 1

New York Rolls Out $1 Billion Clean Energy Investment, New Grid Strategy

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…...

i

Texas Halts Data Center Permits Until Grid and Water Audits Are Completed

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…....

High tech server room interior

California Enacts Data Center Laws Tightening Oversight of Water, Electricity and Land Use

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Sep. 21 signed a package of seven bills that strengthen oversight of data center development by requiring greater transparency on electricity, water, and land-use impacts while preventing developers from shifting infrastructure costs onto ratepayers. The legislation gives local governments more information to evaluate proposed projects as California seeks to accommodate…...

EV charging connector with raind… 202608191417

California Accelerates EV Charger Rollout with Six New Laws

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…...

High tech server room interior

New York Commission Launches Inquiry Into Utilities’ Artificial Intelligence Use

The New York Public Service Commission on Sep. 17 opened a statewide review of how electric, gas, and water utilities are using artificial intelligence across their operations, marking one of the state’s first broad examinations of AI governance in the utility sector. The initiative will assess how companies deploy the technology, whether existing oversight is…...

3 21

New York Launches Statewide Environmental Review of Data Centers

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…...

High tech server room interior

U.S. House Passes Ratepayer Protection Act Requiring Data Centers to Cover Incremental Grid Costs

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…...

i

Texas Tightens Data Center Water Reporting Enforcement

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…...

3 21

New York Launches First Statewide Data Center Community Investment Framework

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Sep. 15 announced the nation’s first statewide Host Community Investment Framework, giving local governments a template to negotiate stronger community benefits from future data center projects while broader regulatory standards are developed. The framework recommends a benchmark of $1 million for every megawatt of utility demand, helping communities secure…...