NEWS: Generators have a dirty reputation—startup Voya Energy has raised $35M to change that.

No more diesel? California-based Voya is developing emissions-free generators that use an “electrochemical process” to turn aluminum-based fuel into electricity. Voya claims its tech avoids two major diesel generator downsides: It’s “ultra-silent,” and doesn’t require air quality permits.

The big picture: For many data center developers, speed-to-power means snapping up diesel generators (their capacity at data centers nearly tripled from 2018 to 2024). But reliance on these noisy, polluting machines has sparked community backlash.