News
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San Jose’s draft data center development standards fall short
By Joyce Chu, San Jose Spotlight October 17, 2026 San Jose residents and advocates are calling for San Jose to place a temporary moratorium on data centers before development standards are finalized. City officials presented draft standards at a community meeting on Oct. 15, 2026. Photo by Joyce Chu. San Jose is creating development standards…
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Pa Governor enters PPL rate case to curb data-center costs
By Commonwealth News Release Harrisburg, PA – Yesterday, Governor Josh Shapiro filed a petition(opens in a new tab) with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) to intervene in a proceeding challenging PPL Electric Utilities’ current rate structure, a crucial action to help protect Pennsylvania electricity customers from rising costs and reliability risks associated with data…
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NJ data center emitted staggering amounts of air pollution for nearly a year before regulators intervened
By KVIA ABC 7 DataOne, the Microsoft-linked New Jersey datacenter recently hit with a $1 million fine for running unpermitted generators, emitted large amounts of health-harming air pollution for nearly a year before state regulators stepped in, according to public records obtained by Floodlight. The Vineland facility’s 62 gas-fired generators became public in August after a…
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Data centers in Jersey? Fuhgeddaboudit
Majorities oppose new data centers anywhere in New Jersey, with concerns about electricity, water usage and utility costs outweighing potential economic benefit, poll shows By David Wildstein, NJ Globe, October 16 2026 5:30 am Nearly three-quarters of New Jersey adults oppose building a data center in their hometown, and a substantial majority don’t want them…
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More Than Half in New Jersey Say Data Center Costs Outweigh the Benefits
By Insider NJ | October 16, 2026 A plurality of residents are negative on AI’s impact on jobs and the environment, while opinion on daily life and education is more mixed Most New Jerseyans say the costs of a data center outweigh the benefits, do not want one built in their area or the state…
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Data centers are now the largest financial bet in US history
Work continues on the new QTS data center in Eagle Mountain, Utah, on April 17, 2026. Today’s data center buildout has become the largest industrial boom since the railroad era of the 19th century, with $10 trillion in investment and almost twice the economic impact. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) By Tim…
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PA Rep. Summer Lee Wants to Push the Pause Button on Data Centers
Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Summer Lee is backing federal legislation that would temporarily halt construction of new data centers while Congress develops national safeguards governing the rapidly expanding industry. Lee has co-sponsored the AI Data Center Moratorium Act, a proposal calling for a temporary pause on new data center construction until comprehensive federal protections are established.…
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AI developers, unable to woo PA opponents with facts, try bribery
By Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com Every household in Hazle Township would get $10,000. That’s free money. No strings attached. All residents would have to do is give a thumbs up to a hyperscale data center in their backyard. In this former Pennsylvania coal community where 17% are living under the poverty level, that money…
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Despite growing opposition, U.S. data center boom shows little sign of slowing
The rapid expansion of data centers across the United States is showing little sign of slowing, despite growing opposition from communities concerned about electricity demand, water use, utility costs and the environmental effects of the massive facilities. Goldman Sachs says the buildout remains largely intact. In a new forecast, the investment bank raised its estimate…
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Amazon pledges $1 billion to data center communities amid growing backlash
Amazon is pledging more than $1 billion over the next five years to communities where it operates data centers in the United States, as the technology industry faces growing public concern over the enormous amounts of electricity and water required by facilities supporting artificial intelligence. The investment will support programs involving education, job training, energy…