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Last Update: 09/24/2026 at 3:34 PM EST
Data Centers Stories
Active coverage from the current news cycle
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31
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- Texas Halts Data Center Environmental Permits
Texas has paused new data center permits until state audits assess proposed facilities’ power and water use, ownership, tax incentives and community effects.Active: 09/22/26 – 09/23/26Details and 6 articles
Texas Halts Data Center Environmental PermitsTexas Gov.
Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to stop issuing new data center permits until state agencies complete audits of proposed facilities. The reviews will examine electricity and water use, ownership, tax incentives and community effects, extending earlier restrictions on grid connections. The order also reaches projects that generate their own power and may avoid grid-connection review.Details and 6 articles - New Jersey Fines DataOne $1.07 Million
New Jersey fined DataOne $1.07 million over 62 unpermitted natural-gas generators at its Vineland data center and ordered the company to address the violations.Active: 09/24/26Details and 5 articles - Maryland Sets New Data Center Review Rules
Maryland will review large data center proposals under new state standards, publish project details, preserve local siting authority, and seek repeal of a tax exemption.Active: 09/24/26Details and 4 articles - Local Opposition Disrupts $68 Billion in US Data Centers
Community opposition delayed or blocked 45 US data center projects worth $68 billion in the second quarter of 2026, increasing pressure on developers and policymakers.Active: 09/21/26 – 09/24/26Details and 3 articles
24-48 Hours
- Virginia Unveils Data Center Accountability Framework
Virginia launches stricter data center oversight covering local approvals, environmental impacts, grid costs, community transparency and workforce requirements.Active: 09/18/26 – 09/22/26Coverage: NBC Washington, Mondaq, WAVY, Fredericksburg Free Press, Cardinal News, WHRO, Virginia Mercury, Governor of Virginia, VirginiaDetails and 26 articles
Virginia Unveils Data Center Accountability FrameworkVirginia Gov.
Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22 and introduced a broader Data Center Accountability Framework to increase transparency, strengthen environmental safeguards and give communities more influence over large data center projects. The measures would require local approval for facilities above 25 megawatts, end certain state subsidies and fast-track permitting, and shift more grid-related costs to data centers. The framework also addresses water use, backup generation, clean energy, workforce development and community engagement, while a new AI Task Force will examine workforce displacement, privacy and cybersecurity risks.Details and 26 articles - Ohio Supreme Court Blocks Wilmington Data Center Referendum
The Ohio Supreme Court blocked a Wilmington referendum on data-center rules, while residents continue separate challenges to local zoning and ordinances.Active: 09/22/26Details and 3 articles - Ohio Data Center Backlash Becomes Election Issue
Ohio residents and candidates are challenging data-center tax incentives and expansion, while local moratoria, referendum efforts, and energy-policy disputes shape the debate.Active: 09/23/26Details and 3 articles - Kentucky Communities Weigh Data Center Rules
Kentucky communities are weighing data center proposals against concerns about electricity, water, local costs, jobs, and how much authority local governments can exercise.Active: 09/23/26Details and 3 articles - ERCOT Surveys 461 Texas Data Center Projects
ERCOT is auditing 461 proposed Texas data centers before further grid-connection decisions, examining power demand, water use, ownership and community impacts.Active: 09/19/26 – 09/23/26Details and 3 articles
Fading
- Nevada Limits Data Center Tax Breaks
Nevada’s governor limits tax abatements for new data centers, requiring full school taxes and developer-paid water, power, grid, and community costs.Active: 09/18/26 – 09/20/26Details and 10 articles - Shapiro’s Data Center Order Faces Authority Questions
Pennsylvania’s data center order adds GRID-based review and local approval conditions while raising questions about executive authority and the enforceability of new requirements.Active: 09/20/26 – 09/21/26Details and 4 articles - Colorado Springs Delays Project Taurus Vote
Colorado Springs postponed a decision on Raeden’s 50-megawatt Project Taurus data center until April 2027 amid strong opposition and unresolved utility and noise concerns.Active: 09/18/26 – 09/19/26Details and 5 articles - Generac Signs $8B Amazon Data Center Generator Deal
Generac will supply Amazon with up to $8 billion in backup generators, prompting expanded production as data center demand accelerates.Active: 09/18/26 – 09/21/26Details and 5 articles - Loudoun Weighs Data Center Pause, End to By-Right Approvals
Loudoun County is weighing a data center application pause and new public approval requirements for projects previously protected by grandfathered by-right rules.Active: 09/18/26Details and 3 articles - Nevada Approves 360-MW Gas Plants
Nevada approved temporary 360-megawatt methane gas plants to power Fleet Data Centers while permanent NV Energy service is developed, pending further permits.Active: 09/20/26Details and 4 articles - Senate Blocks AI Data Center Ratepayer Bill
Senate consideration of the House-passed Ratepayer Protection Act stalled after Martin Heinrich demanded stronger rules for AI data centers and electricity infrastructure costs.Active: 09/17/26 – 09/20/26Details and 5 articles - Paxton Investigates Taylor AI Data Center Land Sale
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is reviewing whether Taylor land once dedicated to future parkland can legally host a proposed Blueprint Projects AI data center.Active: 09/18/26Details and 3 articles - Philadelphia Creates Task Force For Data Center Rules
Philadelphia is developing data center rules as residents seek a moratorium, while no project has been approved and state requirements add disclosure and grid-cost conditions.Active: 09/17/26 – 09/18/26Details and 4 articles - Healey Tightens Massachusetts Data Center Approvals
Massachusetts now requires local approval, community-benefits agreements, and stronger energy and environmental safeguards before large data centers can enter state permitting.Active: 09/20/26Details and 3 articles - Poway Council Moves To Ban AI Data Centers
Poway officials advanced a citywide ban on large standalone AI data centers, citing resource demands, land-use priorities and potential environmental impacts.Active: 09/18/26Details and 3 articles - Mississippi River Mayors Create Data Center Tools
Mississippi River mayors are creating evaluation tools and pursuing water rules as communities weigh the costs and benefits of rapid AI data center expansion.Active: 09/19/26Details and 3 articles - Cleveland Schedules Hearings Before Data Center Moratorium Expires
Cleveland is holding public hearings to shape data center rules before its permitting moratorium expires October 20, amid concerns about power, water, pollution, and community benefits.Active: 09/19/26Details and 3 articles - Sacramento Weighs Link Logistics Data Center
Link Logistics is exploring a 50-megawatt-plus Sacramento data center as officials develop zoning rules and assess grid, environmental, water and neighborhood impacts.Active: 09/19/26Details and 3 articles - Poll Finds Rising Concern Over Data Center Impacts
U.S. concern over data centers’ environmental impacts is rising, while bipartisan majorities support limits, clean-energy requirements, and stronger developer obligations.Active: 09/18/26Details and 4 articles - Oregon Data Centers Consume 23% of State Power
Oregon’s data centers already consume 23% of retail electricity, while planned facilities could drive demand toward 25 terawatt-hours annually by 2030.Active: 09/19/26 – 09/21/26Details and 3 articles - AI Data Centers Push Power Density Higher
AI workloads are driving denser racks and larger data centers, requiring upgraded power delivery, liquid cooling, onsite generation, and more complex infrastructure planning.Active: 09/21/26Details and 3 articles - House Democrats Target Data Center Tax Breaks
House Democrats introduced legislation to bar data centers from 100% bonus depreciation and Opportunity Zone benefits amid concerns about community costs.Active: 09/19/26Details and 3 articles - Bloom Energy Gains From AI Data Center Power Demand
Bloom Energy is benefiting from AI data centers seeking faster onsite power as grid connections lengthen, while Plug Power pursues a difficult hydrogen-business turnaround.Active: 09/20/26Details and 4 articles - Data Center Plastic Pipes Markets Forecast Strong Growth by 2031
Data center plastic-pipe markets across the US, North America, Europe, and Australia are forecast to grow rapidly through 2031 as AI workloads and liquid cooling expand.Active: 09/21/26Details and 4 articles - Nevada Reconsiders Data Center Tax Breaks
Nevada is reconsidering data-center tax breaks as rapid construction raises questions about public revenue, infrastructure demands, and local oversight.Active: 09/17/26Details and 3 articles - RSP Engineers Detail Data Center Truck Access
Data center truck access plans emphasize full-size vehicle modeling, dedicated circulation, durable pavement, drainage, security, and early permitting coordination.Active: 09/17/26Details and 3 articles