Topic
data centers
Commodities Ofgem Moves Against Phantom Data Centers Jamming UK Power Grid Queue
The UK's grid connection queue ballooned from 41 GW to 125 GW between November 2024 and June 2025, driven by speculative data center projects that may never be built. Ofgem proposed nonrefundable deposits and stricter requirements to clear the logjam, but faces a risk of driving legitimate projects abroad.
Technology Candidates Sign AI Pact Promising Data Center Regulation and AI Safety Action
More than 15 US political candidates have signed the AI Pact, a five-promise pledge to regulate data centers and AI. The pact, reported by WIRED, includes mandatory safety reviews, an AI dividend for workers, and liability for AI harms, while stopping short of a data center moratorium. The initiative launched from the Political Integrity Project with funding from a progressive PAC.
Commodities Simple-Cycle Turbines Make Data Center Gas Power Plants Far Dirtier
Amazon's off-grid Texas data center power plant, permitted to emit up to 33 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, will rely entirely on simple-cycle gas turbines — a far less efficient design than the combined-cycle units used at most grid power plants. WIRED reports that a growing wave of data center projects from Meta, Microsoft, Google, and xAI are turning to the same quick-install turbines, with big implications for AI's climate footprint.
Logistics AI Data Center Demand to Triple by 2030, GXO CEO Says on Logistics Impact
GXO Logistics CEO Patrick Kelleher told FreightWaves Today that data center capacity will triple by 2030, driving demand for contract logistics. He detailed GXO's data center services, humanoid robotics economics, reindustrialization's impact on warehouse locations, and a new UK defense partnership.
Logistics AI Data-Centre Boom Sets Shipowners and Tech Giants Racing for Same Engines
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' record $676m, 1,000 MW engine contract for US AI data centres shows how the AI boom is pulling marine engine capacity into land-based power, threatening delivery delays for shipowners. Engine makers from Wärtsilä to Rolls-Royce are expanding production, but pressures on dual-fuel main engines and generator sets persist, Splash247 reports.
Commodities Chevron and Williams Bet Big on Data Centers as AI Fuels Gas Demand
WIRED reports that Williams and Chevron are expanding natural gas infrastructure for data centers as AI demand grows. BloombergNEF says US gas production must rise 36% by the mid-2030s. The plants could emit up to 21 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, according to permit applications.
How Data Centers Broke American Politics
Read the full story for in-depth analysis.
Technology LinkedIn Keeps Compute Capacity Flat for Next Year, Avoiding AI Data Center Expansion
LinkedIn has decided not to expand its data centers in the coming fiscal year, instead keeping compute and storage flat. The company achieved this by doubling the efficiency of its existing GPUs over the past six months, according to CTOs Erran Berger and Raghu Hiremagalur. This move contrasts with the heavy AI infrastructure spending by peers like OpenAI, Meta, and Google.
Logistics AI Data Centers Create 'Capacity Tax' Driving Up Flatbed Freight Rates for Shippers
AI data center construction is absorbing flatbed capacity, driving up rates for traditional bulk shippers in a soft market. IntelliTrans' Blake Azell explains the 'capacity tax' and offers four steps for shippers to navigate the structural shift.
Nvidia Positions Vera Rubin CPU-GPU System as All-in-One AI Data Center Solution
Nvidia is expanding beyond GPUs with its Vera Rubin system, offering a combined CPU and GPU platform for AI data centers. The company claims a tenfold increase in tokens per watt and a "cable-free" design that reduces installation time from hours to minutes. OpenAI has deployed one Vera Rubin rack.
Technology Microsoft Emissions Jump 25% as AI Data Center Expansion Fuels Greenhouse Gas Rise
Microsoft’s greenhouse gas emissions rose 25% in the last fiscal year, driven primarily by data center expansion for AI workloads. The company matched 100% of electricity with carbon-free sources but has signed new fossil-fuel-powered deals. Google and Amazon reported similar double-digit increases, highlighting the sustainability challenge of the AI race.
Technology Data Centers Are Quietly Taking Over Texas. The Pollution Could Be Catastrophic
A WIRED investigation reveals that AI data centers in Texas, including OpenAI's Stargate project, are exploiting a regulatory loophole to build gas-powered plants with minimal public notice. This risks catastrophic pollution and threatens communities like Abilene.
Technology Amid Data Center Boom, Some Electricians Question the Ethics of Their Work
The massive buildout of data centers by Big Tech is creating jobs for electricians but also sparking ethical debates within the trade. Some workers worry about AI's societal impact, while others see opportunity. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has positioned its members as essential to the AI revolution.
Technology Gartner Report Warns Power Demands May Halt AI Data Center Advances by 2030
A Gartner report indicates that AI data center power demands may halt expansion by 2030 unless addressed. Current power needs of 132 GW could reach 290 GW, with AI already consuming 31% of data center power. Goldman Sachs estimates $720 billion in grid spending may be needed.
Technology 89% of UK adults unfamiliar with data centers, survey finds knowledge gap
A survey by SEC Newgate found that 89% of UK adults are unfamiliar with data centers, with 14% never having heard of them. However, when provided with factual information, positive sentiment rose from 35% to 61%, and support for building new data centres increased from 54% to 73%. The research highlights a public knowledge gap at a time when the UK is making major digital growth decisions.
Technology Many new AI data centers will be built on US drought-hit areas
A new report reveals that 517 out of 809 planned US data centers are located in drought-hit areas, raising questions over water and power supply. Only 4% of water demand is direct cooling, while 96% is indirect from power generation and semiconductor fabrication. Local opposition is growing, with Seattle banning new data centers for a year.
Technology New York Lawmakers Pass One-Year Moratorium on Large Data Centers, Awaiting Governor's Signature
The New York State legislature has passed a one-year moratorium on large data centers with a peak demand of 20 megawatts or more, according to TechRadar. The bill awaits Governor Kathy Hochul's signature, who has until December to decide. The moratorium aims to allow time for environmental and energy impact assessments, with supporters citing concerns over electricity and water usage.
Technology OpenAI: fake China-linked accounts used ChatGPT to turn Americans against AI dat
OpenAI has banned accounts it says were part of two China-linked influence campaigns that used ChatGPT to generate social media content opposing AI data centers and US tariffs. The campaigns, named 'Data Center Bandwagon' and 'Tech and Tariffs,' failed to gain significant traction, but highlight the use of AI in foreign influence operations.
Technology Seattle Halts New AI Data Centers Amid Resource Concerns
Seattle has enacted a one-year moratorium on new AI data centers to address concerns over energy and resource consumption. The decision follows public opposition and aims to develop regulations for future projects.
Technology Seattle Nears Approval of Data Center Moratorium
Seattle's City Council has approved a year-long moratorium on new large data centers, pending the mayor's signature. This decision aims to address concerns over electricity, water usage, and noise pollution. The ban primarily affects developers, as major tech companies do not operate data centers within the city.
Technology US States Push Back Against Data Center Expansion
As data centers proliferate, several US states and local governments are pushing back against new constructions due to environmental and community concerns. New York leads with a proposed moratorium, while local bans gain traction.
Technology Meta's $115M Initiative to Train Data Center Builders
Meta has launched America's Workforce Academy, a $115 million initiative to train Americans for data center construction roles. The program offers free five-week courses with employment opportunities and industry-recognized certifications.