Maine has passed the first state data center freeze. (The Hill)
The ban, covering facilities >20MW, would last for 1.5 years while officials craft new policies to address the state’s data center buildout. It’s on its way to the desk of Gov. Janet Mills, who has voiced support. Another recent move to temper the data center boom: The NAACP sued xAI this week, alleging its gas turbines powering Memphis-area data centers ran for months without air permits.
While we’re here: Following years of talks, Georgia Power won unanimous GPSC approval for a new program enabling data centers to procure their own solar and battery projects (aka BYONCE). But it’s unclear how this affects the utility’s planned 10 GW buildout (60% gas), one of the biggest new fossil fuel rollouts nationwide—and whether ratepayers will be left paying off these investments.
The thread: States are scrambling to figure out who pays, who benefits, and who breathes the exhaust as data center load projections balloon. And the answers are landing differently everywhere.