Key developments
Utah approves Stratos AI campus amid backlash
Box Elder County commissioners approved Kevin O'Leary's Stratos Project, a proposed 16,000-hectare AI campus in northwest Utah. Developers say it would need about 9 GW of power from its own gas plant; Utah State University professor Robert Davies estimated around 16 GW of thermal load, or roughly 23 atomic bombs of heat per day. Gov. Spencer Cox supports the project, the Utah Military Installation Development Authority has granted fast-tracked zoning and tax incentives, but environmental and building permits are still pending and a referendum effort is trying to reverse county approval.
Why it matters
It would be one of the world's largest AI campuses and remains exposed to major water, heat, and permitting risks.
Sources & driving stories
ZME SCIENCE
ZME Science coverageEU data-center rules face nuclear dispute
The European Commission is preparing early-June rules to regulate data-center energy use, publish a rating scheme, and pave the way for binding minimum energy performance standards from 2030. The European Environment Agency says rapid AI growth is threatening climate-neutrality goals and notes weak disclosure, with only 36% of required centers reporting efficiency data in a Commission document cited by POLITICO. France, Italy, and eight other EU countries have now asked Brussels to treat nuclear power as a clean source for data centers, arguing the draft unfairly favors renewables and breaches technological neutrality.
Why it matters
The rules will set the energy and reporting baseline for Europe's fast-growing AI infrastructure.
Sources & driving stories
POLITICO
POLITICO coverageE&E NEWS BY POLITICO · Elena Giordano
E&E News by POLITICO coverageIndiana utilities line up gas, coal, and batteries
NIPSCO said it has new large-load contracts in Michigan City and Hobart as Indiana utilities race to serve AI-era demand. In Hobart, Amazon plans a 2.4 GW data center, and filings show NIPSCO GenCo backing it with 3,000 MW from two 1,300 MW gas plants plus 400 MW of batteries; in Michigan City, Google-linked plans include three battery units and 500 MW from an unnamed contractor. NIPSCO also confirmed a deal to buy power from Hallador's Merom coal plant, keeping the site operating after a last-minute sale.
Why it matters
Indiana's load growth is pushing utilities toward new fossil generation and storage to serve data-center customers.
Sources & driving stories
INDIANAPOLIS STAR
Indianapolis Star coverageWorth noting
WORTH NOTING
Socorro County weighs data-center moratorium
The New Mexico Tech proposal is still early-stage, but the county could pause it while water and telescope concerns are sorted.
WORTH NOTING
Jay mill conversion hit by shipping delay
A data-center conversion of the former Androscoggin Mill now faces equipment-timing uncertainty after Strait of Hormuz disruptions.
Still unclear
OPEN QUESTION
Can Stratos secure water and permits?
County approval is in hand, but the project still needs environmental/building permits and faces organized opposition.
OPEN QUESTION
Will EU rules allow nuclear-powered data centers?
Member states are pressing for technological neutrality just as Brussels prepares new energy and disclosure standards.