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Key developments
FERC orders faster data-center grid hookups
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved orders Thursday to accelerate interconnection for large data-center loads, targeting handling of power requests within 90 days instead of timelines that can stretch for years. Six regional grid operators and transmission owners have 60 days to justify existing tariffs for large-load customers or submit revisions. The framework may require AI hyperscalers to bring their own power, curtail load during grid stress, and pay for grid upgrades, while utilities report data-center-related costs to FERC.
Why it matters
The order makes data-center power access a formal national grid-planning issue and could reshape project siting, cost allocation, and hyperscaler energy strategy.
Sources & driving stories
FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS-MINER
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner coverageVirginia budget adds data-center electricity tax
WSET reports that Virginia lawmakers reached agreement on the 2026–2028 biennial budget after weeks of dispute over how to tax the state’s data-center boom. The deal would impose a new electricity consumption tax on data centers, in addition to existing taxes and fees, and order an impact study of current sales and use tax exemptions. The Senate had pushed to eliminate data-center tax breaks worth billions, while the House argued for retaining them because of jobs and tax revenue; lawmakers are expected to return to Richmond on Monday to vote.
Why it matters
Virginia is the country’s dominant data-center market, so any new load-based tax or exemption review could influence other states facing grid-cost and subsidy debates.
Sources & driving stories
WSET
WSET coverageFlorida and Nevada projects face moratorium pressure
Alice Herman of WUSF reports that DeSoto County, Florida, commissioners may consider a moratorium after DCIP Group’s data-center proposal expanded from 34 acres to more than 800 acres and included natural-gas turbines capable of up to 4 gigawatts. Separately, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Henderson officials considered a 180-day pause on data-center permit approvals while staff studies code changes covering air quality, heat generation, siting and decommissioning. In Nevada, NV Energy says it has received service requests for 39 proposed data-center projects totaling 16,530 MW, compared with the state’s current combined peak load capacity of 8,241 MW.
Why it matters
Local governments are increasingly using moratoria and code reviews as near-term tools to slow projects while they assess water, power, emissions, heat and infrastructure impacts.
Sources & driving stories
WUSF · Alice Herman
WUSF coverageLAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Las Vegas Review-Journal coverageWorth noting
WORTH NOTING
California bills test Newsom
The Los Angeles Times reports that SB 886, SB 887, AB 2619 and AB 1577 are advancing after Gov. Gavin Newsom previously vetoed water-use reporting requirements, setting up another decision point on grid costs, CEQA exemptions, and water and fuel transparency.
WORTH NOTING
Palm Beach lawsuit exposes review route
Katie Bente of WPEC reports that litigation over Project Tango raises whether a 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse approval could be converted into about 1.16 million square feet of data centers through administrative review without public comment or a commissioner vote.
WORTH NOTING
Verse raises $54M
Raina Gimmel of AIPressRoom reports that Verse secured a $54 million Series B, backed by NVIDIA, to use on-site battery storage and software to help AI data centers move through utility interconnection queues.
Still unclear
OPEN QUESTION
Can faster hookups avoid ratepayer cost shifts?
FERC’s framework accelerates large-load processing but still leaves hard questions about who pays for transmission upgrades and how transparently data-center costs are isolated from general utility bills.
OPEN QUESTION
Do moratoria become durable policy?
Henderson, DeSoto and other jurisdictions are using temporary pauses, but the unresolved question is whether they lead to enforceable standards on power sourcing, water use, emissions, noise and heat.