Marshall County in Indiana has approved a permanent ban on data centers, effective immediately, potentially shifting development focus to more permissive regions. This move highlights escalating local regulatory hurdles for data center expansions amid concerns about infrastructure strain.

• Marshall County Commissioners approved the ban in a unanimous vote during their latest meeting
• Ban prohibits all new data center constructions and expansions within county limits
• Existing facilities remain operational but face restrictions on modifications or upgrades
• Decision driven by local worries over high water consumption, energy demands, and noise pollution
• Effective immediately, with no grace period for pending project applications
• Similar restrictions under discussion in adjacent counties like Kosciusko and Fulton

A high-profile AI data center megaproject associated with the Trump brand has stalled, leading to the departure of its CEO. This setback underscores the challenges in executing ambitious data center developments amid shifting leadership and market conditions.

• Project involves plans for a 500 MW facility in Tennessee focused on AI workloads
• CEO Michael Evans departed after 18 months in the role
• Development halted due to regulatory hurdles and funding shortfalls totaling $2.5 billion
• Partners include tech firms Oracle and Microsoft for infrastructure support
• Original timeline targeted completion by 2025, now delayed indefinitely
• Site spans 1,200 acres with proposed liquid cooling systems

In the Switched On podcast by Bloomberg NEF, host Tom Rowland-Rees interviews analysts Lara Camman and David Mohamadi about the PJM Power Market Outlook 2026 report. They discuss how data centers are driving rapid load growth in the largest US power market, pressuring supply and capacity, which data center engineers should watch to understand grid evolution and demand management strategies.

• PJM enters a period of rapid load growth driven largely by data centers after years of steady demand
• Load surge reshapes the system, pressures supply, and pushes capacity prices to record highs
• Options to meet demand include building new supply faster or managing demand, with balance complicated by competing interests
• Modeling PJM combines challenges from other markets, such as large load growth like ERCOT, carbon markets like California, gas-to-coal switching like MISO, and behind-the-meter solar plus offshore wind like New York ISO
• Data center load growth concentrates in PJM South, requiring regional placement and handling considerations in scenarios

CADFEM APAC’s YouTube video presents a digital twin approach for data center cooling using Ansys simulation tools, demonstrating how it integrates physics, AI, and real-time data for predictive thermal management. Data center engineers should watch to understand how this method enables proactive cooling adjustments and energy savings.

• Digital twin integrates physics-based simulation, AI-driven prediction, and real-time sensor data to forecast temperature behavior.
• CFD model built with Ansys Fluent simulates server heat generation and fan-driven airflow under varying conditions to generate training data.
• Temporal fusion transformer model uses historical data, heat loads, fan speeds, and calibrated states for time series temperature forecasting.
• Moving horizon estimation combines sensor data with model predictions to maintain digital twin accuracy despite noisy or limited inputs.
• System predicts future temperatures and identifies potential hotspots, allowing preventive actions.
• Applications include dynamic fan speed adjustments, energy consumption reduction, anomaly detection, and improved operational planning.

• Bloom Energy will supply solid oxide fuel cells capable of 2.8 GW total output
• Oracle plans integration across multiple U.S. data center sites by 2026
• Project focuses on AI workloads, supporting up to 500,000 GPUs
• Fuel cells operate on natural gas or hydrogen, with efficiency ratings above 60%
• Investment estimated at $5 billion, funded through joint financing
• Deployment includes microgrid setups for redundancy in California and Texas

Maine's legislature passed LD 307, making it the first state to enact a moratorium on data center construction. The ban targets facilities drawing 20 MW or more and runs until November 2027.

• The House passed it 82-62; the Senate followed shortly after
• A new Data Center Coordination Council will study grid impact, water use, and economic tradeoffs before the moratorium expires
• Governor Janet Mills has indicated support with minor modifications
• Projects in Jay (a former paper mill site), Sanford, and Loring would be halted
• Maine already has some of America's priciest electricity. Lawmakers cited concerns that AI-driven demand would push rates even higher
• At least 12 other states have filed moratorium bills this cycle. Maine is the first to actually pass one

Pacific Investment Management Co. is in early talks with Bank of America to provide roughly $14 billion in debt financing for Oracle's data center in Saline Township, Michigan. The campus is tied to OpenAI workloads.

• Deal would be structured in 144A format, with bonds sold privately to qualified institutional buyers
• Blackstone is expected to contribute an additional $2 billion in equity
• Related Digital is leading the project development
• PIMCO has form here: it held $18 billion of debt in Meta's Hyperion data center financing and recorded a $2 billion paper gain as valuations rose
• Oracle has $38 billion in debt tied to data center projects in Texas and Wisconsin, plus another $18 billion for a New Mexico facility

ITIF researcher Robin Gaster pushes back on the prevailing grid-panic narrative with a data-heavy argument that AI data centers won't overwhelm electricity supply.

• Only one-third of announced capacity is actually being built. Of 240 GW announced, capital constraints, permitting delays (6-18 months), and construction timelines (20-54 months) dramatically slow deployment. New deals fell 40%+ between Q3 and Q4 2025
• Data centers can shift load off-peak. Peak demand occurs only a few hours per year, and strategic load shifting could improve grid utilization
• Behind-the-meter generation is reducing grid dependence. Hyperscalers are building their own power and using the grid only for backup
• New contracts already protect ratepayers. Large load tariffs include 15-year minimums, 85% load guarantees, ramp-up schedules, exit fees, and hold-harmless clauses
• Real electricity prices are 6% lower than in 2008. The grid has absorbed bigger demand shocks before