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2026 Maine Senate Race
Key developments
FERC pushes faster large-load grid interconnections
Hunton’s Ted J. Murphy reported that FERC issued June 18 show-cause orders to all six ISO/RTO regions, finding existing tariffs may inadequately address data centers and other large-load interconnections. Grid operators must defend current rules or propose fixes by Aug. 17, file resource-adequacy reports by July 20, and may seek short abeyances for voluntary section 205 proposals. FERC is pressing for 60-to-90-day transmission studies, clearer cost allocation, flexible transmission service, and better treatment of co-located or electrically proximate generation.
Why it matters
Federal regulators are moving to reduce one of the biggest constraints on hyperscale AI campuses: grid connection timing and power-supply adequacy.
Sources & driving stories
HUNTON · Ted J. Murphy
Hunton coverageOgallala data-center siting raises water alarms
Newsweek’s Jasmine Laws reported new mapping by Brockovich AI Data Center Reporting showing multiple proposed or under-construction AI data centers directly above or near the Ogallala Aquifer. Projects cited include Fermi’s 11 GW Project Matador in Amarillo, Crusoe’s 1.8 GW Project Jade in Wyoming, Aligned’s Caprock campus, Microsoft’s Cheyenne expansion, and proposed campuses near San Angelo and Casper. Local scrutiny is already active: Fermi’s Charlie Hamilton testified on water conservation before a Texas House committee on June 24, while Tom Green County commissioners rejected a 12-month data-center moratorium on June 2 after protests over Beacon’s Dove Creek project.
Why it matters
Cooling choices and water sourcing are becoming decisive permitting issues in regions dependent on slow-recharging groundwater.
Sources & driving stories
NEWSWEEK · Jasmine Laws
Newsweek coverageFlorida and Pennsylvania deepen data-center uncertainty
Politico reported that at least 20 Florida local governments have passed or discussed temporary or permanent data-center moratoriums, with backlash affecting projects in Nassau County, Citrus County, Fort Meade and western Palm Beach County. Nassau approved an up-to-one-year moratorium after NextNRG paused hyperscale plans, while Deltona withdrew Citrus County applications after a one-year moratorium. Separately, Ethan Young reported for mcall that Pennsylvania’s House passed both Gov. Josh Shapiro’s conditioned data-center tax incentive bill and Rep. Greg Vitali’s bill to repeal the sales-tax exemption projected to cost more than $2 billion by mid-2031; a municipal 180-day pause bill also advanced.
Why it matters
Developers now face simultaneous land-use, tax-incentive and political risk in states that have been competing for AI infrastructure investment.
Sources & driving stories
POLITICO
Politico coverageMCALL · Ethan Young
mcall coverageWorth noting
WORTH NOTING
Nevada growth meets local pauses
Jim Hartman reported for Nevada Appeal that Nevada has 74 active and planned data centers, while Reno, Humboldt County, Boulder City and Henderson are pursuing pauses or restrictions even as Clark County approved a Switch expansion.
WORTH NOTING
Ohio township zoning plan stalls
Karen Gerhardinger reported that Lucas County planners sent Waterville Township’s 67-page data-center zoning amendment back with no recommendation, citing enforceability concerns before township review on July 20.
WORTH NOTING
Vertiv expands AI cooling portfolio
Bailey Pemberton reported for Yahoo Finance that Vertiv added ThermoKey and Strategic Thermal Labs capabilities and launched PurgeRite NearZero, aimed at reducing water waste for hyperscale developers.
Still unclear
OPEN QUESTION
Can faster interconnection avoid cost shifting?
FERC is pressing for speed, but its orders also emphasize transmission-cost transparency and state regulators’ ability to protect ordinary ratepayers.
OPEN QUESTION
Will cooling disclosures become mandatory earlier?
Several contested projects near stressed water resources have not publicly disclosed final cooling configurations, water sources or consumptive-use estimates.