Good morning. Washington lined up $10.1 billion for nuclear and gas while states argued over who pays for data-center power.
Top Stories
DOE LINES UP $10.1 BILLION FOR NUCLEAR UPRATES AND NEW GAS
Utility Dive
Constellation could receive up to $5 billion under a conditional loan commitment for nearly 1.1 GW of nuclear uprates. DOE also closed $5.1 billion in loans to Alliant subsidiaries for more than 2.6 GW of gas generation, storage and plant upgrades.
NORTH CAROLINA SAYS DATA-CENTER POWER COULD COST $50 BILLION
NC Newsline
Gov. Josh Stein and Attorney General Jeff Jackson want large customers to cover new generation as well as grid upgrades. Stein says flexible clean-energy supply from half of new large loads could save ratepayers $20 billion.
DEEP FISSION SIGNS A KANSAS POWER DEAL WITH A 2-GW ENDGAME
American Nuclear Society
The definitive contract targets 150 MW in 2028 and as much as 2,000 MW later. It arrives after a short-seller report battered the company's shares, allegations Deep Fission disputes.
TEN STATES PUT DATA-CENTER BACKLASH ON THE BALLOT
Reuters
Voters will decide measures that could curb development as power costs, water use and local control turn the AI buildout into an election issue.
OHIO'S DATA-CENTER REVOLT DRAWS $137.6 MILLION IN ADS
TIME
More than 100 local governments have enacted moratoriums, at least 10 communities will vote on bans and two will decide mayoral recalls. Democrats account for 77% of the broadcast spending.
Power & Grid
FERC TIGHTENS PENALTIES FOR MISO'S DEMAND-SIDE RESOURCES
Utility Dive
The rules take effect June 1, 2027 and add stronger restrictions and financial penalties for underperforming resources. MISO counted 13.4 GW of demand response and behind-the-meter generation in its latest auction.
BNEF RAISES THE U.S. STORAGE FORECAST 30% IN SIX MONTHS
Utility Dive
The consultancy now expects 213.9 GW by 2030. On-site data-center storage jumps from 4.9 GW in 2026 to 6.3 GW in 2027.
EDF PUTS TRUMP'S COAL ORDERS AT $593 MILLION
Canary Media
The Environmental Defense Fund estimates stay-open orders for six coal plants cost utility customers up to $593 million through June 2026 and caused up to $860 million in health damages.
WISCONSIN AND VERMONT RETURN TO FORMER NUCLEAR SITES
American Nuclear Society
Dairyland Power and Applied Atomics will study SMRs at the former La Crosse plant. Vermont's public-service commissioner says the Vermont Yankee site could also work, but deployment would take seven to eight years.
PJM MOVES TO LET BATTERIES SHARE EXISTING GRID CONNECTIONS
Canary Media
The proposal would let hybrid projects separate the energy and capacity rights of existing resources and added batteries. Even a fast process may not reach FERC approval until late 2027.
Data Centers
ARIZONA'S DATA-CENTER WATER PROBLEM STARTS AT THE POWER PLANT
KJZZ
On-site cooling uses less water than many assume, but the electricity supply is another matter. A Ceres analysis says planned facilities could push power-sector water use tied to data centers up 400% to 14.5 billion gallons a year.
PENNSYLVANIA ADVOCATE SAYS RATEPAYERS COULD BEAR $156.9 MILLION
TechTarget
The consumer advocate alleges that customers could bear most of $178.4 million in upgrades tied to an unnamed hyperscale campus served by PPL. The utility commission has not ruled on the complaint.
NIPSCO TIES $57.5 MILLION IN CUSTOMER CREDITS TO DATA CENTERS
The Journal Gazette
The utility proposed $5 monthly credits for 18 months, or about $90 per electric customer, subject to regulatory approval. NIPSCO attributes the savings to data-center development.
A MICHIGAN HOUSE RACE TESTS BIG TECH'S POLITICAL CLOUT
POLITICO
A William Lawrence win would embolden Democrats pressing a tougher approach to Silicon Valley and data centers before the 2028 presidential race.
OKLAHOMA OPENS THE 2027 DATA-CENTER RULEBOOK
News 9
State senators heard testimony on economic benefits, electricity and water demand and the lack of long-term research. The hearing could shape legislation in the 2027 session.
Stat of the Day
434.4 GW
Cumulative U.S. storage capacity BNEF expects by 2036
The forecast includes 36 GW of on-site storage at data centers.
Utility Dive ↗