Good morning. GE Vernova signed a $9 billion grid-equipment deal, while CenterPoint added $4 billion to its buildout.
Top Stories
GE VERNOVA AGREES TO BUY GRID-EQUIPMENT MAKER FOR $9 BILLION
The Wall Street Journal
The Trench Group deal would expand GE Vernova's high-voltage equipment portfolio. The buyer expects to fund the price evenly with cash and debt and close in late 2027.
CENTERPOINT ADDS $4 BILLION TO A $70.7 BILLION BUILDOUT
Utility Dive
The Houston utility moved $1.5 billion of spending into the first half of its plan. Electric projects account for $51.5 billion of the total.
MUSK PUTS $5 MILLION BEHIND ABBOTT'S CLOSING PUSH
POLITICO
The Texas governor reported Elon Musk's contribution alongside other technology-sector money as data-center costs and regulation moved into the final days of the race.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS WANT DATA-CENTER ATTACK ADS IN DOZENS OF RACES
The Hill
The DCCC is urging campaigns in competitive districts to target Republican records on AI and data centers as power bills and local siting fights reshape the midterm message.
AI PUTS THE FED BETWEEN INFLATION AND A HARD LANDING
POLITICO
AI investment complicates the central bank's effort to cool prices without breaking the job market or stirring financial turmoil.
Power & Grid
PJM CALLS A $145 MILLION RATEPAYER CLAIM A 'FISHING EXPEDITION'
Utility Dive
Mon Power wants FERC to investigate PJM's advance scheduling of gas plants during Winter Storm Fern. West Virginia officials support a review, but generator groups oppose rerunning settled markets.
RENEWABLES COULD PASS GAS CAPACITY IN 2027
Electrek
EIA data show renewable capacity grew by 43.5 GW in 12 months. The forecast that it reaches 40.4% of total capacity relies partly on an advocacy group's assumption for small-scale solar growth.
FOUR SENATE DEMOCRATS PUT A PRICE ON PERMITTING TRUST
The Hill
The senators want the Trump administration to restore climate funding canceled for Democratic-led states before they trust that renewable projects will receive fair treatment under the bipartisan bill.
GRANHOLM WARNS TRUMP'S WIND CURBS COULD SINK THE PERMITTING DEAL
Axios
The former energy secretary is urging Democrats to pass the bipartisan package now while warning that restrictions on wind development could break the coalition behind it.
CONNECTING 30 DATA CENTERS TO COMED'S GRID CARRIES A $3.1 BILLION TAB
Capitol News Illinois
ComEd filings put the upgrades at $3.1 billion. Developers paid $721 million in deposits and provided $1.1 billion in credit guarantees, but consumer advocates say customers still face a gap.
Data Centers
NEW MEXICO STUDENTS WALK OUT AGAINST DATA CENTERS AND A SENATE BILL
Source New Mexico
Hundreds joined protests in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, with more than 100 marching to Sen. Martin Heinrich's office. His office says the permitting bill would make data centers cover energy costs and protect tribal consultation.
TEXAS VOTERS EXPECT DATA CENTERS TO RAISE THEIR POWER BILLS
ABC13 Houston
A University of Houston poll found 76% expect higher bills even if local tax revenue rises. Sixty-nine percent are very concerned about electricity prices and water supply.
GEORGIA COLUMN PUTS DATA-CENTER TAX BREAKS AT $2.5 BILLION
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Opinion
The author says one fiscal year of property and sales tax exemptions shifted infrastructure and utility burdens toward households, turning recent utility elections into an affordability backlash.
A $100,000 DATA-CENTER BET DRAWS AN EDITORIAL REBUKE
Cleveland.com Editorial Board
The editorial faults the Ohio Chamber for spending heavily against Trenton's ballot restriction and urges it to understand small-town concerns before trying to defeat local bans.
A PHOTOGRAPHER TRACKS NORTHERN VIRGINIA'S DATA-CENTER FOOTPRINT
Axios DC
Stephen Voss began his Dark Fiber project in 2023. His subjects include a historically Black cemetery in Sterling that is now surrounded by data centers.
Stat of the Day
17 GW
Large-load projects CenterPoint submitted to ERCOT's new review process
The utility expects 12 GW to qualify as base or studied load. ERCOT plans to open Batch One in summer 2027.
Utility Dive ↗