Tag

Power Grid

All articles tagged with #power grid

politics2 days ago•5 min saved

Abbott tightens data-center rules as Texas growth tests the power grid

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott defended new guardrails and a moratorium on data-center construction to curb grid strain and water use after rapid growth that outpaced state coordination with local authorities; he previously touted Texas as an AI hub with Google’s $40 billion investment and incentives. The state hosts about 335 data centers with hundreds more planned, and the rules require water-use disclosure, prohibit drawing power directly from the grid, and aim to keep electricity affordable for consumers. Critics point to swift approvals for some centers, while Abbott says state input will be required to connect to the grid, a point highlighted as elections approach.

via Politico|

#ai-development #data-centers #greg-abbott

politics6 days ago•12 min saved

Rural Texas Pushback Tests Abbott Over Data Centers and Power Lines

Rural voters across Texas are souring on Gov. Greg Abbott amid rapid data-center growth and a $33 billion plan to expand a 765-kilovolt transmission grid, fueling concerns about water use, outages, local control, pollution, and the erosion of rural identity; Abbott’s pause on new data-center approvals and push for guardrails have not won broad support, and some Republicans are weighing voting for a Democrat in November as rural backing for Abbott weakens.

via Politico|

#abbott #data-centers #politics

technology20 days ago•1 min saved

Texas Orders Audit of Data Center Boom to Guard Grid Reliability

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT to review proposed new data centers, collecting details on ownership, finances, planned power needs, water use, and mitigation plans, after Texas hosts about 521 data centers and ERCOT is evaluating more than 474 gigawatts in grid-connection requests—over 90% tied to data centers—warning that unprecedented load growth could threaten grid reliability.

via Engadget|

#abbott #data-centers #ercot

energy29 days ago•20 min saved

Heat Waves and AI Data Centers Push U.S. Power Grids Toward a Tipping Point

Heat waves across the US are straining electricity grids as households crank up AC and a data-center boom maintains around‑the‑clock power demand. Regional operators like PJM, MISO, and SPP have issued emergency alerts amid record July demand (about 168 GW) and aging transmission gear, with humidity and climate change extending peak loads into the evening. While Texas adds renewables and avoids an energy emergency, capacity auctions have fallen short and major investments in generation and transmission—potentially in the trillions—are needed to shore up reliability for the next decade and beyond.

via Yahoo Finance|

#data-centers #energy #grid-reliability

world1 month ago•6 min saved

Ukraine expands drone strikes to cripple Crimea’s power grid, triggering rolling blackouts

Ukraine’s intensified drone campaign is targeting Crimea’s main power facilities, including Tavriyska and Balaklava power plants, causing rolling blackouts that have left tens of thousands without electricity for a week or more. The outages hit Sevastopol and northern Crimea, with fuel shortages and water disruptions reported in multiple towns as authorities attempt to stabilize the grid amid ongoing strikes on transmission nodes and power infrastructure.

via Kyiv Post|

#crimea #drones #outages

technology1 month ago•12 min saved

Grid-First AI Power: Building a Clean, Flexible Grid for the Data-Center Era

AI data centers are poised to push U.S. electricity demand from about 31 GW to 66 GW, stressing aging infrastructure and potentially driving up costs and outages. Experts argue the fix isn’t just building more generation but upgrading the grid with a diversified mix of clean, firm power, enhanced reliability, and smarter demand management. Proposals include Enhanced Geothermal Systems for baseload, grid-friendly data centers with on-site storage and flexible workloads, and policy tools like a grid infrastructure fund, pricing incentives, and transparency on energy use and emissions. The result would be a co-designed AI–energy system that keeps data centers powerful and the grid resilient as electrification progresses.

via Gizmodo|

#ai #data-centers #grid-flexibility

world1 month ago•10 min saved

Drones Knock Crimea Off the Grid, Target Energy and Bases Across Russia-Occupied Territory

Ukrainian kamikaze drones—estimated 450–600 aircraft—blacked out Crimea in Kyiv’s largest night attack on Russian power infrastructure, with partial outages in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk as well. Drones hit key targets including a Simferopol substation and Hvardiiske air base, and strikes reached Kerch port and Russian oil facilities near Yaroslavl and Ust-Luga. Russia says 519 drones were shot down; reports include one civilian death and several injuries.

via Kyiv Post|

#crimea-blackout #hvardiiske-air-base #kerch-port

energy1 month ago•1 min saved

PJM Triggers Emergency Demand Reductions as Grid Faces Heatwave, Outages

PJM, the largest U.S. power-grid operator, activated a federal alert to cut electricity use amid generator outages and heavy air-conditioning demand during a heatwave, ordering utilities to curtail load as transmission lines become congested and wholesale prices surge.

via CNBC|

#congestion #electricity-prices #energy

weather1 month ago•46 min saved

Heatwave leaves over 842,000 homes in the dark as US endures scorching heat

A sweeping heatwave across the Midwest and Northeast has knocked out electricity to more than 842,000 homes, with total outages approaching a million as crews race to restore service amid record heat. The strain on the grid comes as heat indexes reach 110–115°F in some areas, prompting the cancellation of Independence Day parades/events and disrupting travel (Amtrak), while sparking national debate over energy infrastructure, renewables vs. nuclear, and how best to bolster resilience against climate change.

via Yahoo|

#heatwave #independence-day #infrastructure

technology1 month ago•7 min saved

Heatwaves push US grid as AI data centers surge in energy and water use

A sweeping US heatwave strains the power grid and water supplies as the nation races to build thousands of AI data centers, whose cooling and electricity needs could lift overall energy demand and stress local water resources, prompting calls for greater oversight, siting checks, and faster upgrades to generation and transmission, as utilities implement measures like backup power dispatch.

via Al Jazeera|

#ai-data-centers #energy-demand #heatwave

technology1 month ago•16 min saved

DOE Clears Backup Power Route for Data Centers Amid Heat Wave

Amid a brutal heat wave, the Energy Department authorized PJM to direct large-load customers, including data centers, to rely on their own backup power as a last resort to prevent blackouts, tapping an estimated 35 GW of unused backup generation (enough to power ~26 million homes) while exempting critical facilities; the measure is limited to emergency conditions through Friday and has raised concerns about emissions from backup generators.

via Gizmodo|

#backup-generation #data-centers #energy

politics1 month ago•2 min saved

Mamdani's 78-degree plea sparks GOP backlash over energy policy

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to set thermostats to 78 degrees, turn off unused lights/electronics, and unplug nonessential devices to prevent overloading the power grid during extreme heat, with city buildings also following the guidance. The post triggered a wave of Republican criticism labeling it socialist, with comments from Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Ted Cruz, and Dave Portnoy; a note acknowledged Texas had previously issued a similar 78-degree recommendation.

via USA Today|

#ac-78 #energy-policy #mamdani

us-news1 month ago•25 min saved

Mamdani’s 78-degree heat rule sparks online roasting as NYC swelters

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani drew backlash online after recommending residents set their air conditioners to 78°F during a blistering heat wave that could push temperatures to 100°F, with critics calling the guidance impractical or political. Mamdani said the 78-degree rule would ease demand on the power grid and urged lighting and electronics to be minimized, while officials note DOE guidance of roughly 75–78°F and warned of high energy usage as NYC endures the hottest days since 2012. The backlash included jokes and mockery from critics and residents alike.

via New York Post|

#air-conditioning #heat-wave #new-york-city

energy1 month ago•3 min saved

Extreme heat tests US power grid as AI data centers push energy demand

A major US heatwave is expected to push electricity use to near-record levels this week, straining grids operated by PJM Interconnection, NYISO, and MISO. Officials warn that demand is rising faster than new supply, a gap amplified by hyperscale AI data centers—concentrated in northern Virginia—that increase energy use and contribute to a data heat island effect. Health advisories accompany the forecast, with peak demand around 166.3 gigawatts projected for Thursday evening as temperatures climb above 38 C across much of the eastern half of the country.

via Al Jazeera|

#ai-data-centers #energy #energy-demand

world1 month ago•4 min saved

Crimea Declares Emergency as Ukraine Attacks Disrupt Power Grid

Kremlin-backed Crimea authorities declared a regional state of emergency after Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure caused rolling blackouts, fuel shortages, and transport disruptions; the move is meant to speed damage claims and streamline restrictions while repair crews work to restore power, with water pressure affected and rail/sea services scaled back as the economy, heavily reliant on tourism, reels from the outages.

via The Moscow Times|

#blackouts #crimea #power-grid