Good morning. A New Jersey data center is running dozens of generators without permits, Georgia approved power for a $20 billion OpenAI campus, and X says a China-linked bot farm tried to inflame the power debate.
Top Stories
DOZENS OF GENERATORS RUNNING, ZERO AIR PERMITS
The Guardian / Floodlight
Thermal drone footage caught gas generators operating at the DataOne campus in Vineland, about a mile from two schools and built to serve a $17.4 billion Microsoft compute deal. New Jersey says it has issued no permits for them and has no applications under review.
GEORGIA CLEARS POWER DEAL FOR $20 BILLION OPENAI CAMPUS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia regulators approved the utility agreement with conditions meant to protect other customers from the cost of serving the project near Savannah. The decision moves one of OpenAI's largest infrastructure bets closer to construction.
X FINDS A CHINA-LINKED BOT FARM IN THE DATA-CENTER FIGHT
Tom's Hardware
X says roughly 200 accounts inside a 200,000-account network pushed posts about data centers, household power prices and grid strain. The accounts paired real news links with inflammatory commentary and AI-generated images.
EVERGY PLANS $5.3 BILLION GRID BUILDOUT FOR AI LOAD
Missouri Independent
Five data-center projects have committed to 2.5 GW of continuous demand across Kansas and Missouri. Evergy plans more than 5 GW of new generation by 2032, including nearly 4 GW of gas capacity.
BESHEAR WANTS KENTUCKY'S DATA-CENTER TAX BREAKS ENDED
Louisville Courier Journal
The governor is asking lawmakers to repeal state incentives for new data centers. His position turns an enforcement fight over the program into a direct challenge to the subsidies themselves.
Power & Grid
MICHIGAN APPROVES ITS FIRST STATE-SITED SOLAR FARM
MLive
Ranger Power's 90-MW Acceleration Solar project will cover more than 600 acres in three Ingham County townships. It is the first project approved through the siting process created by Public Act 233.
SOLAR KEEPS GROWING AS RENEWABLE INVESTMENT STALLS
Semafor
Global renewable investment fell to $327.5 billion in the first half, more than 20% below its late-2024 peak. Offshore wind plunged 72%, while investment in projects combining solar, wind and storage more than tripled to a record $25 billion.
NEW YORK LAWMAKER TARGETS THE STATE SITING OFFICE
WTEN News10
A Capital Region lawmaker wants to defund the office that oversees large wind and solar projects. The proposal brings the state-local fight over energy siting directly to the agency's budget.
OPINION: OHIO'S 40-YEAR DATA-CENTER TAX BREAK GOES TOO FAR
cleveland.com
A reader argues that equipment-tax exemptions granted to Amazon, Meta and Google favor the world's largest companies at ratepayers' expense. Gov. Mike DeWine paused new exemption requests in May while lawmakers review the program.
SOUTH CAROLINA LETS A DATA-CENTER GAS PLANT SKIP REVIEW
The Island Packet
State utility regulators declined to require commission approval for a developer's gas plant. The ruling opens another route for data centers to bring their own power outside the traditional utility process.
Data Centers
DUKE ASKS FLORIDA TO WAIT ON A DATA-CENTER RATE
Utility Dive
Duke says its proposed tariff already protects other customers through a 20-year service term and upfront payment for line extensions. Florida's public counsel says the filing fails the state's new large-load law.
CALIFORNIA LEAVES DATA CENTERS OUT OF CEQA REFORM
The Modesto Bee
State officials say the latest permitting-reform proposal does not cover data centers. The exclusion leaves the industry's projects subject to the existing environmental-review process.
CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY PASSES DATA-CENTER ENERGY REPORTING
The Center Square
AB 1577 would require data centers with at least 500 kW of installed capacity to report monthly energy, water, waste heat and onsite generation data to the California Energy Commission.
NEW JERSEY ORDERS DATA CENTERS TO REPORT WATER AND POWER USE
New Jersey Monitor
Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a disclosure law covering data-center water and electricity consumption. The state will get a clearer view of resource demand as larger projects move forward.
OPENAI'S DATA-CENTER CHIEF LEAVES
The Wall Street Journal
Chris Malone joined OpenAI in March 2025 after leading data-center strategy at Meta. He leaves as the company tries to turn Stargate's enormous power and construction commitments into operating campuses.
Stat of the Day
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Generators caught running at DataOne's Vineland campus
State inspectors spotted them during a July 29 site visit and still have not made a compliance determination.
The Guardian / Floodlight ↗