Energy from sunlight; PV and CSP convert rays into electricity
A wave of local and state actions is shaping the data-center boom. New rules aim to curb power use, water consumption and cost pressures, while critics warn of overreach and uneven economic impacts.
Solar power has for May provided more electricity than coal for the first time, reaching 12.8% vs 12.2% and signaling a lasting shift toward renewables amid policy headwinds. Emitted by Ember, SEIA and Wood Mackenzie, the data show solar remains the leading source for new power as coal declines. Trump’s plan to bolster coal faces industry pushback.
More than 700 shovel-ready clean energy projects have been offered grid connection dates in Great Britain, unlocking 37 GW of capacity and accelerating the path to a net-zero grid by 2030. The reforms end a backlog from speculative applications and set stricter criteria for future connections.
Zimbabwe has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement for a 50MW solar plant powered by private developers and backed by an open-access regime. The deal aims to improve electricity security and attract investment while supporting industrial consumers.
A flurry of deals links data centers with distributed energy resources. Companies are coordinating rooftop solar, home batteries and grid-scale storage to meet rising AI demand, while utilities consider new projects and regulators weigh environmental impacts.
The government has announced 43 transmission projects that will qualify for a new bill-discount scheme. Households within 500 metres of qualifying overhead lines will receive up to £2,500 off electricity bills over 10 years, with payments starting early next year and funded by a small charge on all bills. Many projects are in Scotland to carry wind power.
A MAHA-backed letter to Trump, Kennedy and cabinet officials has voiced health-first concerns about coal-powered data centers and urged a shift toward solar, geothermal, and efficiency. The move signals growing friction between MAHA activists and the administration as data centers draw increasing scrutiny.