News/Energy
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
read Oct 17, 2025Google DeepMind partners with fusion startup to power AI data centers
Google DeepMind has partnered with fusion startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems to apply artificial intelligence expertise toward developing practical fusion power, the companies announced Thursday. This collaboration represents the latest effort by major tech companies to secure clean energy sources for their power-hungry data centers, as the AI boom drives unprecedented electricity demand. The big picture: Tech giants are placing significant bets on fusion energy as a solution to their growing power needs, with Google, Nvidia, and Microsoft all investing in Commonwealth Fusion Systems. Google has made two capital investments in CFS and secured access to 200MW of power from the...
read Oct 17, 2025AI data centers projected to comprise 12% of US electricity consumption by 2028
Rising electricity costs across America are increasingly linked to the artificial intelligence boom, as data centers powering AI tools strain the power grid and drive up consumer bills. The average price of electricity has jumped 13% since 2022, with data centers projected to consume up to 12% of US electricity by 2028—nearly triple their 2023 usage—creating unprecedented demand that utilities struggle to meet. What you should know: Individual consumers are feeling the impact of AI's massive power requirements in their monthly electricity bills. Kentucky nurse Lindsey Martin saw her bill spike from around $150 two to three years ago to...
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4 power-hungry AI data centers spark citizen concerns in Southeast Michigan
At least four massive AI data centers are being proposed across Southeast Michigan, sparking heated community debates about their environmental and economic impacts. The surge comes as Michigan lawmakers recently extended tax breaks for data center projects, positioning the state to capitalize on the AI boom while raising concerns about water usage, energy consumption, and transparency in rural communities. What you should know: These hyperscale data centers require enormous amounts of power and water to operate AI systems and keep them cool. A single AI server can consume more than 10 kilowatts of power, with specialized chips drawing up to...
read Oct 14, 2025Democrats, Republicans on same page as data centers become bipartisan political target
Local and state candidates across both parties are increasingly targeting data centers as a key campaign issue, blaming them for rising electricity bills as AI investments drive massive energy demands. The bipartisan backlash is particularly intense in Virginia's suburbs, where voters are becoming single-issue opponents of data center expansion despite the industry's economic benefits. The big picture: Data centers have become an unexpected political lightning rod, uniting Republicans and Democrats in opposition to what they see as corporate freeloading on local energy infrastructure. In Prince William County, Virginia, both Republican Patrick Harders and Democrat George Stewart agreed to block future...
read Oct 13, 2025Brookfield invests $5B in Bloom Energy fuel cells for AI data centers
Brookfield Asset Management has agreed to invest up to $5 billion with Bloom Energy to deploy fuel cells for powering AI data centers, marking the first phase of their plan to build "AI factories" globally. This partnership addresses the critical energy infrastructure gap as demand for AI computing power rapidly outpaces what existing power grids can support, positioning both companies at the forefront of the AI infrastructure boom. The big picture: Current projections show electricity demand for AI facilities will exceed what public power grids can handle in their current form, creating an urgent need for alternative energy solutions. Fuel...
read Oct 13, 2025Old school coal relied on as US datacenter power needs surge
US datacenters are increasingly turning to coal power due to rising natural gas prices and surging electricity demand driven by AI workloads. This shift represents a significant reversal for climate goals, as coal generation has increased nearly 20% year-to-date, with Jefferies, a financial services firm, projecting this trend will continue through 2027 as operators race to bring new capacity online during the expected 2026-2028 demand surge. What you should know: The datacenter boom is forcing utilities to extend the life of coal plants they had planned to decommission. In Omaha, one power company reversed plans to stop burning coal, citing...
read Oct 10, 2025Bezos proposes AI data centers in space by 2040s, powered by solar energy
Jeff Bezos has proposed building gigawatt-scale data centers in space within the next two decades, powered by constant solar energy to address AI's growing power consumption demands. Speaking at Italian Tech Week, the Amazon founder argued that orbital computing infrastructure could eventually undercut the cost of terrestrial data centers while eliminating weather-related disruptions and energy constraints. The big picture: Space-based data centers would leverage permanent sunlight and unlimited power generation to support the massive energy requirements of AI training clusters, potentially solving sustainability concerns plaguing Earth-bound facilities. What they're saying: Bezos emphasized the advantages of space-based computing infrastructure during his...
read Oct 10, 2025Wall Street analysts debate if AI buildout spending slows economic growth
Wall Street analysts are increasingly questioning whether artificial intelligence, the driving force behind the current three-year bull market, might actually be hindering short-term economic growth despite its long-term promise. The debate centers on whether massive AI infrastructure investments are diverting resources from other productive economic activities, creating immediate headwinds even as they build the foundation for future productivity gains. The big picture: Top economists at major financial institutions are split on AI's current economic impact, with some warning that the technology's resource demands may be creating growth gaps in the near term. UBS's Paul Donovan, global chief economist for UBS...
read Oct 7, 2025New AI tool predicts if your electric vehicle can complete planned trips
Engineers at the University of California, Riverside have developed State of Mission (SOM), an AI diagnostic tool that predicts whether an electric vehicle can complete a specific trip based on real-world conditions rather than just showing battery percentage. The system combines machine learning with physics to factor in elevation, traffic, temperature, and driving style, addressing a critical gap in current EV battery management that often leaves drivers uncertain about their actual range. How it works: SOM replaces traditional battery gauges with mission-specific predictions by blending AI adaptability with electrochemical reality.• The hybrid model "learns" from how batteries behave over time—how...
read Oct 3, 2025AI comes home as consumer advocates warn data centers could drive up your electric bill
Consumer advocates are raising concerns that the massive energy demands of AI data centers could drive up electric bills for residential customers across the United States. The warning comes as utility companies grapple with unprecedented power consumption from artificial intelligence operations, which require vastly more energy than traditional computing due to their simultaneous processing of billions of calculations. What you should know: AI's energy consumption far exceeds traditional computing because of how the technology processes information. "The difference between what we are using for AI and what we are using for our regular computer is that it's actually running everything...
read Oct 2, 2025No pain, no TX-GAIN: MIT unveils the most powerful AI supercomputer at any US university
MIT Lincoln Laboratory has unveiled TX-GAIN (TX-Generative AI Next), the most powerful AI supercomputer at any U.S. university, with a peak performance of two AI exaflops. The system is optimized specifically for generative AI applications and is already accelerating research across biodefense, materials discovery, cybersecurity, and other critical domains for both Lincoln Laboratory and MIT campus collaborations. What you should know: TX-GAIN represents a significant leap in university-based AI computing capabilities, powered by over 600 NVIDIA graphics processing unit accelerators designed specifically for AI operations. The system achieved recognition from TOP500, which biannually ranks the world's top supercomputers across various...
read Oct 1, 2025BlackRock nears $38B AES deal to capitalize on AI power demand
BlackRock's infrastructure fund Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is nearing a $38 billion deal to acquire renewable power company AES, according to the Financial Times. The acquisition would position BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, to capitalize on surging power demand driven by AI data centers, while representing one of the largest infrastructure takeovers in history. What you should know: AES is a prominent U.S. utility that owns and operates power plants globally, providing energy solutions for major tech companies including Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta as they expand AI infrastructure.• Takeover talks are in advanced stages, though the deal could still...
read Sep 30, 20252 Southern Republican governors and a Midwestern one embrace AI data centers as revenue jackpot
Three Republican governors from Southern states embraced artificial intelligence data centers as economic game-changers while rejecting government subsidies for clean energy during a panel at the Southern States Energy Board conference. The governors of Mississippi, Georgia, and Missouri advocated for market-driven energy solutions as Southern states compete to attract AI data center investments that could generate substantial tax revenues and transform rural economies. What you should know: Southern states are aggressively pursuing AI data center investments as major tech companies expand their infrastructure footprint. Meta announced a $1.5 billion investment in a 1.3 million square foot data center in Montgomery,...
read Sep 29, 2025London-based Vaire Computing’s Ice River chip cuts AI energy use by 30%
Vaire Computing has successfully tested its Ice River chip, which demonstrated a 30% reduction in energy consumption compared to standard processors by reusing energy rather than discarding it as heat. The proof-of-concept achievement addresses growing concerns about AI's escalating energy demands, though questions remain about whether hyperscale operators will adopt such technology over their own internal solutions. How it works: Ice River tackles processor inefficiency through two key innovations that fundamentally change how chips handle energy. The chip uses reversible logic gates that allow energy to flow in both directions, enabling calculations to reuse inputs for further operations rather than...
read Sep 26, 2025Former Texas governor Rick Perry’s data center startup eyes $13B IPO amid AI boom
Rick Perry's data center company Fermi America is preparing to go public at a valuation of up to $13 billion, positioning the former Texas governor and Trump energy secretary to earn hundreds of millions from his 3% stake. The company, founded just this year, plans to build the world's largest private electric grid and data center complex in Texas, named after President Trump and powered by nuclear, natural gas, wind, and solar energy. What you should know: Fermi America aims to raise up to $550 million through its IPO, with shares expected to list between $18-$22 on both Nasdaq and...
read Sep 24, 2025Meta moves to sell wholesale electricity through new subsidiary Atem Energy
Meta has filed an application with federal regulators to sell wholesale electricity through its newly formed subsidiary Atem Energy, marking the tech giant's entry into energy markets. The move reflects Meta's growing need to secure reliable power for its expanding AI data center infrastructure, which is driving unprecedented electricity demand across the industry. What you should know: Meta's energy subsidiary seeks broad market authorization to manage the company's massive power requirements. Atem Energy has requested Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval to sell energy, capacity, and ancillary services by November 16. The wholly owned subsidiary was created earlier this year...
read Sep 23, 2025UN climate chief calls AI a climate “gamechanger” but warns of energy risks
The UN's climate chief says artificial intelligence can be a "gamechanger" in tackling global heating, but governments must regulate the technology to manage its risks and energy demands. Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, emphasized that while AI offers significant potential for climate solutions, its growing energy requirements from large datacenters require immediate regulatory attention. What you should know: AI is already being deployed across multiple climate applications, from energy system optimization to industrial carbon reduction tools. The UN itself is using AI to support climate diplomacy efforts, demonstrating the technology's versatility in addressing...
read Sep 23, 2025Microsoft’s $1B Kenya data center meant to thwart China stalls amid geopolitical, commercial tensions
A $1 billion geothermal-powered data center project in Kenya, announced by Microsoft and UAE's G42 in May 2024, has stalled despite its strategic importance in the US-China tech competition for African digital infrastructure. The project was designed to leverage Kenya's abundant geothermal energy and serve as a blueprint for loosening Beijing's grip on the continent's tech ecosystem, but developers have yet to break ground with the original May 2026 deadline fast approaching. The big picture: The Olkaria data center represented a geopolitically motivated partnership between three nations—the US, UAE, and Kenya—aimed at countering China's dominance in African digital infrastructure, where...
read Sep 22, 2025ANYbotics raises €127M for explosive environment-certified four-legged robot
Swiss robotics developer ANYbotics has raised over €127 million in funding to accelerate global expansion and bring its new ANYmal X model to market, with Climate Investment (CI) leading the latest investment round. The funding positions ANYbotics to capitalize on growing demand for autonomous inspection solutions in hazardous industrial environments, particularly as the company prepares to launch the world's first explosion-certified legged robot in 2026. What you should know: ANYbotics' four-legged robots are already performing thousands of weekly inspections across critical industries, with over 200 units deployed in the field.• The ANYmal robots excel at autonomous navigation, collision avoidance, and...
read Sep 18, 2025UCLA scientists use laser light to make AI image generation 90% more energy efficient
UCLA scientists have developed a new AI image generation system that uses laser light as a decoder instead of traditional digital computation, dramatically reducing energy consumption during the inference process. The breakthrough could make AI more sustainable while opening doors for energy-efficient wearable AI devices like smart glasses. How it works: The system combines a shallow digital encoder with a diffractive optical decoder that uses light to generate images instantly.• The heart of the system is a liquid crystal screen called a spatial light modulator (SLM) that imprints image information into a laser beam.• By passing through a second decoding...
read Sep 16, 2025US interior secretary says AI arms race matters more than climate change
US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum declared that winning the AI arms race is more critical to planetary survival than addressing climate change, arguing that America's AI dominance requires immediate access to abundant energy sources. Speaking at a natural gas industry event in Italy, Burgum dismissed the $5 trillion global investment in renewables as ineffective and too slow to meet AI's unprecedented energy demands. What they're saying: Burgum emphasized the urgency of powering AI infrastructure over climate concerns for future generations. "What's going to save the planet is winning the AI arms race," Burgum stated at the event promoting fossil fuels...
read Sep 12, 2025U.S. data center spending hits record $40B as AI drives 30% growth
U.S. data center spending reached a record $40 billion in June, marking a 30% year-over-year increase driven primarily by artificial intelligence and machine learning infrastructure demands. This unprecedented investment surge reflects how AI expansion is reshaping digital infrastructure, with tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet leading massive facility buildouts while raising critical questions about electricity grid capacity and sustainability. What you should know: The data center construction boom represents the largest infrastructure investment wave in the sector's history, with AI serving as the primary catalyst. Spending jumped from a 50% increase in 2024 to 30% growth in 2025, according...
read Sep 10, 2025Scientists map quantum landscapes that could unlock room-temperature superconductors
Researchers are now mapping the hidden quantum landscape inside materials, a breakthrough that could lead to revolutionary discoveries comparable to the transistor's development in the late 1920s. This quantum topography may determine material properties and could unlock room-temperature superconductors or entirely new classes of materials with transformative applications. The big picture: Despite our increasingly digital world, materials science remains fundamental to modern life, from steel in construction to lithium in batteries, and this new quantum understanding could dramatically expand what's possible. Why this matters: The last major breakthrough in materials science—understanding electron energy bands in the 1920s—led directly to the...
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