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Energy

AI news about the power AI uses and where it comes from.

10 stories in the last 30 days

Today

1 story
  1. Must read Ars Technica

    Big Tech claims voters’ AI backlash is “anti-Trump” not “anti-tech”

    Widespread voter approval of data center bans and moratoriums poses a major political and physical bottleneck for the US AI infrastructure buildout.

    US voters passed 38 out of 44 ballot measures across 10 states to restrict or ban new data centers, alongside electing candidates who promised stricter AI regulations. Analysts note these moratoriums and rules will largely slow down future AI infrastructure projects planned for 2028 rather than those already approved.

    6 sources

Yesterday

3 stories
  1. Must read SemiAnalysis

    Elon Is Doing It Again: SpaceX Will Be The World’s Biggest AI Cloud

    This unprecedented pace of AI infrastructure and behind-the-meter power deployment positions Elon Musk's companies to potentially become the largest AI compute provider in the world within a few years.

    SemiAnalysis reports that SpaceX is rapidly constructing massive AI datacenter capacity across multiple locations, including expansions at Colossus 2 and new sites at Starbase and TeraFab in Texas, targeting roughly 13GW by 2027. To achieve record-breaking build times and bypass grid constraints, the company is utilizing modular equipment from Tesla, mobile gas turbines, and a nearly 6GWh battery energy storage system.

    1 source
  2. Worth knowing TechCrunch

    Data centers are turning to old jet engines as the wait for power grows

    This highlights the severe energy bottleneck slowing the AI infrastructure buildout and the unconventional, polluting workarounds companies are adopting to stay competitive.

    Facing multi-year delays for grid connections and new turbines, AI data center operators are turning to retired aircraft engines rebuilt to burn natural gas to generate electricity quickly. Companies including xAI, OpenAI, and Crusoe are deploying these converted jet engines to bring facilities online within two years, despite their lower efficiency and higher emissions.

    1 source

Mon, Nov 2

2 stories
  1. Worth knowing The Verge

    OpenAI pitches data center power plants as a way to protect nearby areas

    As AI compute demands strain electrical grids and spark local backlash, AI companies are having to pitch grid-support initiatives to win community approval for new data centers.

    OpenAI announced a pilot "Grid Protectors Program" at an upcoming data center in Georgia, promising to free up to 1,000 megawatts of power for local communities during emergencies or extreme weather. The initiative comes amid growing local opposition across the US to the massive energy demands of new data center projects.

    3 sources

Sun, Nov 1

1 story
  1. Worth knowing SemiAnalysis

    The Datacenter Backlash Goes Bipartisan: Next Week's Midterms and the 2028 Buildout

    State-level permitting freezes and regulatory conditions could significantly delay or increase the cost of up to 30 GW of planned US data center capacity needed to power future AI scaling in 2028.

    SemiAnalysis examines how a growing, bipartisan political backlash against data centers in the upcoming US midterm elections threatens the 2028 infrastructure buildout. Gubernatorial candidates across major markets like Texas and Oregon are campaigning on construction moratoriums, ending tax breaks, and forcing developers to cover grid upgrade costs and report water usage.

    1 source

Sat, Oct 31

1 story
  1. Worth knowing TechCrunch

    Judge allows NAACP lawsuit over xAI data center pollution to move forward

    The ruling highlights the growing legal and environmental challenges facing AI companies as they rapidly build energy-intensive data centers.

    A federal judge denied xAI's motion to dismiss an NAACP lawsuit alleging the company violated the Clean Air Act by operating at least 35 unpermitted gas turbines at its Colossus data center. The court rejected xAI's arguments that the turbines are exempt as mobile sources and that citizen lawsuits are unconstitutional.

    1 source

Fri, Oct 30

2 stories
  1. Worth knowing The Verge

    Google’s satellite AI server transmits its first response to Earth

    This test demonstrates an early step toward orbital AI compute infrastructure, which companies are exploring to address terrestrial power and cooling constraints.

    Google's satellite equipped with Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) has generated and transmitted its first responses from orbit using an on-board Gemma 4 model. The milestone is part of Project Suncatcher, an experimental initiative exploring the deployment of AI data centers in space.

    3 sources