Good morning. The House is taking up data-center power costs, New York is putting a price on host-community consent and Texas is redrawing the biggest transmission project in state history.
Top Stories
HOUSE TAKES UP DATA-CENTER RATEPAYER BILL
Reuters
The bipartisan measure targets new campuses drawing at least 100 MW and directs states to consider making them cover incremental generation, transmission and distribution costs. It reached the floor after a 52-0 committee vote.
NEW YORK RECOMMENDS $1 MILLION PER MW FOR HOST TOWNS
Reuters
Gov. Kathy Hochul's voluntary framework, required under July's moratorium order, gives local governments a benchmark for negotiating investments in infrastructure, housing, schools and childcare. She is also seeking legislation to end state sales-tax exemptions for the largest data centers.
DUKE REDACTS THE PRICE OF FLORIDA'S DATA-CENTER BOOM
Tampa Bay Times
Duke's filing redacts the potential revenue shortfall for serving data centers. Consumer advocates say customers could be exposed after 2027, while Duke says shareholders absorb any gap for now and promises a dedicated large-load rate in 2028.
DATA CENTERS BECOME AN OHIO SENATE LIABILITY
POLITICO
Sen. Jon Husted is pushing ratepayer protections after years of supporting Ohio's data-center buildout. The timing leaves him exposed to attacks over power bills and tax incentives before Congress can deliver a political shield.
CON ED SHUT OFF 7,700 HOMES IN JULY
The New York Times
Disconnected households owed an average of $2,327 as rising utility bills pushed more New Yorkers into arrears. State rebate checks are coming, but the shutoffs show how far behind many customers already are.
Power & Grid
TEXAS REROUTES ITS BIGGEST POWER LINE AFTER LANDOWNER REVOLT
San Antonio Express-News
Regulators shifted the 370-mile, 765-kV Howard-Solstice line north of Uvalde to follow more existing corridors. The project is part of a $33 billion plan to move electricity toward the Permian Basin.
WISCONSIN RESTARTS $1.3 BILLION DATA-CENTER GRID REVIEW
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
American Transmission Co. resubmitted plans for a high-voltage line and five substations serving Vantage's Port Washington campus, which is being developed for Oracle and OpenAI. The reset gives regulators six months and puts a December 2027 connection target under pressure.
ARKANSAS QUESTIONS WHO PAYS FOR GOOGLE'S POWER
Arkansas Advocate
Lawmakers challenged Entergy's plan to recover Cypress Solar costs from customers even though the project will support Google's $4 billion West Memphis campus. The dispute tests the utility's promise that data centers will pay their fair share.
TEXAS OPENS 13 MILLION ACRES TO NEXT-GENERATION POWER
KPRC / Click2Houston
The General Land Office is asking industry how state land could host geothermal plants, small modular reactors and gas generation. Revenue from the agency's land and mineral rights supports Texas public schools.
NEW MEXICO PROBES $400 MILLION BLACKSTONE ROLLBACK
Utility Dive
TXNM reversed an illegal stock sale by borrowing $400 million and canceling about 8 million shares. The state Justice Department wants proof that the replacement financing will not raise costs for PNM's 550,000 customers.
Data Centers
GOOGLE AND NVIDIA BET AI LOAD CAN BEND WITH THE GRID
Axios
The companies joined Emerald AI in a new alliance built around shifting computing work when grids are strained. The pitch is that flexible demand can lower costs, ease community resistance and unlock more AI capacity.
NEW YORK HIDES THE VALUE OF DATA-CENTER POWER DISCOUNTS
The Journal News
The New York Power Authority confirms that several data centers receive discounted electricity through ReCharge NY but will not disclose the savings. The secrecy lands as the state asks host communities to demand larger benefits.
TRUMP POLLSTER WARNS GOP THAT BLANK-CHECK SUPPORT LOSES
Axios
Tony Fabrizio's campaign memo says 61% of voters accept data centers with conditions while just 24% support unrestricted development. He tells Republicans to demand enforceable power, water and community protections.
WEST VIRGINIA PITCHES DATA CENTERS AS A WATER FIX
WCHS / West Virginia Watch
The state energy director says closed-loop campuses could generate tens of millions of dollars for failing coalfield water systems. Environmental advocates warn that new development can also worsen water-quality, supply and flooding risks.
IOWA SCIENTISTS WARN DATA CENTERS COULD REVIVE COAL
Iowa Public Radio
A statement signed by 186 researchers says peak demand could climb more than 30% in a decade, mostly from data centers. The group wants wind and solar to meet the load as Iowa's coal generation turns upward again.
Stat of the Day
$1 million per MW
New York's recommended community investment benchmark for new data centers
A 50 MW project, the size that triggers the state's moratorium, would imply $50 million for local infrastructure and services.
Reuters ↗