Google launches Project Suncatcher, a step towards AI data centers in space : NPR

"The sun puts out almost all of the power in our solar system. All of the other power sources that humanity has tapped into are just a tiny fraction of a percent," said Travis Beals, senior director and lead of Project Suncatcher. "So in some sense, this project is about tapping into the best way to use solar power to run AI compute."…

 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/01/nx-s1-5983697/project-suncatcher-google-ai-data-center-space

 

Democrat blocks fast-track passage for data center ratepayer bill - Live Updates - POLITICO

Heinrich’s bill, introduced last month, would go further than the Ratepayer Protection Act by directing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue rules for large electricity customers connecting to the grid to pay for necessary grid upgrades. 

 It would force companies seeking to get linked to the grid go through a detailed review process, pay for the upgrades needed to connect and put up financial commitments to do so...

 https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/09/17/congress/data-center-bill-falls-amid-democratic-objection-01082461

 

Datacenter rush will create ‘tsunami’ of discarded electronics, report says

The electronic trash AI generates in the next 25 years could fill enough shipping containers to encircle the globe six times, it said. Yet, says the report by the non-profit environmental group Basel Action Network (BAN), there is no plan to deal with that waste – which typically contains toxics like lead, mercury, cadmium and forever chemicals, as well as valuable metals that are challenging to reclaim…

 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/16/datacenters-pollution-electronics

 

Former EPA Officials: Trump Is Letting Data Centers Make People Sick – Mother Jones

“Over the decades, toxicologists, chemists, atmospheric scientists, modelers and engineers worked in concert with academic colleagues on behalf of the American people—not on behalf of industry,” Costa said in a press briefing last week. “We wanted to carry out EPA’s mission of protecting people’s health from industrial air pollution.” 

 Now, though, that work force has been gutted. The Trump administration has dismantled EPA’s main research office, and the agency’s priorities have shifted away from strict enforcement of pollution standards. “Transforming the nation’s energy system, while diminishing its scientific capacity to understand what the impacts are going to be, makes no sense,” Costa said…

 https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/trump-epa-data-centers-epn-report-health-hazards/

 

EPA proposal could leave the public in the dark on data center plans | PBS News

"By eliminating the long-standing federal requirement for public notice, this proposal continues efforts by the Trump administration to turn its back on the fundamental EPA principle of transparency," said Mike Koerber, a former deputy director of EPA's air quality office...

 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/epa-proposal-could-leave-the-public-in-the-dark-on-data-center-plans

 

Democrats seize on two GOP midterm vulnerabilities: Data centers and the ‘big beautiful bill’ - POLITICO

“Trump has made it an issue by saying that he wants data centers reigning everywhere; he’s basically saying he doesn’t care about local control, he doesn’t care about local communities,” Khanna said in an interview Wednesday. “We can be on the side of local cities, rural communities, factory towns, suburbs — places that don’t want Big Tech coming and telling them what to do.”…

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/03/data-centers-midterms-tax-credit-01063014

 

NDAs are hiding data center deals, drawing ire from locals — and attention from lawmakers : NPR

The negotiations between the data center developer — Dallas-based Applied Digital Corp. — and local officials were shielded under nondisclosure agreements (NDAs). 

 In Rapides Parish, the secrecy left residents with unanswered questions and distrust of their local leaders. But the use of NDAs for negotiations on data centers is common across the country, according to experts and those in the industry. And the practice has faced opposition from the public and some lawmakers.

https://www.npr.org/2026/08/27/nx-s1-5879528/data-center-nda-disclosure-louisiana 

Another potential headache for US data centers — Trump tariffs - POLITICO

The Trump administration is weighing a new round of sweeping tariffs on semiconductors, eight people familiar with discussions told POLITICO — despite warnings from tech companies that the move could doom U.S. hopes of dominating artificial intelligence...

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/27/data-centers-chips-tariffs-threat-01050957

Republicans are breaking with Donald Trump on data centers - POLITICO

In recent weeks, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Michigan GOP Senate nominee Mike Rogers and Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity have called for temporary pauses on data center projects. Rep. Tom Tiffany, Republicans’ gubernatorial candidate in Wisconsin, launched an attack ad painting his Democratic rival as too pro-data centers. Michigan GOP Rep. Tom Barrett also rolled out an ad last week saying “I stood up to my own party” on data centers and introduced legislation to shore up local control over them...

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/27/republicans-breaking-with-trump-data-centers-01051897 

 

Groups sue Trump’s EPA over fast-track approval of toxic datacenter chemicals

Exposure to two compounds approved can result in ‘sudden death’ and range of other serious health risks, lawsuit warns…

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/26/trump-epa-datacenter-forever-chemicals? 

 

Trump EPA aims to exempt datacenters from disclosing air pollution, advocates warn

Trump administration proposes new rule to dismantle requirement for datacenters to publicly report air pollution…

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/25/datacenters-air-pollution-epa

US building twice as much gas-fired capacity as China in AI boom, analysis finds

There has been a 76% increase in under-construction gas-fired projects amid ‘frenzy’ to build more datacenters…

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/25/us-gas-power-china-ai-datacenter

 

Australia doesn’t want to be AI’s landlord - POLITICO

Canberra wants clean energy, local training and a bigger share of the AI economy...

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/18/australia-doesnt-want-to-be-ais-landlord-01039921

 

Environmentalists Are Rolling Their Eyes at Trump’s “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” – Mother Jones

Lena Moffitt, executive director of climate advocacy organization Evergreen Action, called Trump’s announcement a “photo op with big tech” that “won’t lower a single family’s electric bill.” 

 “Trump promised again and again to cut Americans’ energy costs, but instead he’s letting the same corporations driving up demand write their own rules—a voluntary pledge with no teeth and no consequences if they break it,” she said...

 https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/08/environmentalists-are-rolling-their-eyes-at-trumps-ratepayer-protection-pledge/

 

Where do primary candidates stand on issues? (Michigan Governor race)

Michigan Public interviewed three gubernatorial candidates on where they stand on data centers, economic development and mass deportations. Below are their responses…

 https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-07-30/where-do-primary-candidates-stand-on-issues

"This is a huge scandal. This should be front page news everywhere": high risk investments in AI

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/swihU47elQo

 

People Living Near xAI’s Dirty Data Centers Are Right Pissed About the SpaceX IPO – Mother Jones

Elon Musk’s worth tops $1 trillion as rural communities fight to rein in his gas turbines…

 https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/06/xai-data-center-neighbors-angry-spacex-ipo-gas-turbines-colossus-pm2-5-elon-musk-trillionaire-pollution-asthma/

 

Tech moguls claim China funds U.S. data center opposition : NPR

The theory that China is paying local activists in America to oppose data centers is catching on like wildfire among the Silicon Valley elite, despite a lack of evidence. Wealthy investors are naming names and pointing fingers, even if they can't directly link their projects' opponents to China...

 https://www.npr.org/2026/06/10/nx-s1-5844328/us-china-data-centers-foreign-influence

 

Bernie Sanders backs climate activist in close Michigan congressional primary

“Any data center project should insure hard working Michigan families won’t pay higher utility rates, data centers don’t strain our grid and rely on their own clean energy power and utility infrastructure, communities aren’t hurt, and our environment is protected,” the spokesperson said…

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/21/bernie-sanders-backs-climate-activist-michigan-race

 

Solar booms in industrial US midwest as energy crisis persists

Electricity has become one of the most important commodities in the region thanks to demand from datacenters, Iran war and rising utility charges…

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/02/solar-midwest-energy-crisis