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Recent news

• Aug 19, 2026

  Pa. Gov. Shapiro signs executive order to ‘rein in’ data center development

  Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has announced a new executive order that tightens state oversight of data center construction. - The order requires local official approval, bars expedited permitting for new projects, and prevents state agencies from signing non-disclosure agreements about development projects.

  • The Department of Environmental Protection will publicly track and map permits, while developers must sign contracts covering transparency, natural resource protections, and strict water conservation requirements; permits will not be issued until all local land use approvals are secured.
  • The article is a news report and commentary on the political shift around data centers in Pennsylvania, referencing previous incentives, public opposition, and campaign criticism; it also mentions that more than $20 billion in Amazon investment had been reported previously in the state.
• Aug 19, 2026

  List of AI companies turning to old and rare books for AI training

  Amazon has been reported to be buying old, obscure and rare books and sending them for destructive scanning at its Las Vegas facility VGT3, according to an investigation by 404 Media.

  • 404 Media said it tracked a rare book with a device to Amazon facility VGT3 in Las Vegas; workers reportedly remove spines, scan pages, and discard physical copies.
  • Amazon said it buys books through commercial channels, but did not say how many books it purchases or whether it preserves rare titles; booksellers in Europe and Ireland reported suspicious bulk orders, including 5,000 obscure titles to Kennys.
  • The article also compares Amazon’s practice with similar AI-book uses by Anthropic, Meta, OpenAI, and Google; it cites Anthropic’s Project Panama, Meta’s discussion of buying Simon & Schuster and paying $10 per book, and Anthropic’s later $1.5 billion settlement over pirated books.
• Aug 19, 2026

  Here are 10 US tools you can replace right now with European alternatives

  This article is a commentary and procurement-oriented roundup of European alternatives to widely used US business software, not a first-time corporate announcement.

  • It argues that European companies can reduce dependence on US providers across cloud, AI, CDN, storage, email, analytics, calendars, docs, messaging, and workspace tools.
  • It cites Proton research from February 2026 showing 73% of surveyed people in the UK, Germany and France believe their societies are too dependent on US tech, and 83% are concerned about that dependence.
• Aug 19, 2026

  CtrlS DataCenters Nets ₹250 Cr From Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath, Sreeram Reddy Vanga

  CtrlS DataCentres has announced a fresh ₹250 Cr equity funding round to support infrastructure and capacity expansion.

  • Nikhil Kamath invested ₹200 Cr and Sreeram Reddy Vanga invested ₹50 Cr; CtrlS says the capital will help scale capacity for enterprise and hyperscaler demand across India.
  • The company says it operates 19 data centre campuses across nine hubs in India, has 370 MW of compute capacity and 4.4 GW of projects under execution, and is building a 150 MW hyperscale campus in Chonburi, Thailand.
  • The story also references prior funding: up to ₹7,000 Cr in commitments from CPP Investments at a $4.8 Bn valuation, plus a target of 4 GW by 2031 and expansion plans into the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
• Aug 18, 2026

  Amazon is upping its data center commitment in northwest Louisiana by $6B

  Amazon has announced an expanded planned investment in Northwest Louisiana, increasing its commitment from $12 billion to $18 billion with a third data center campus at Resilient Technology Park in Shreveport.

  • The additional $6 billion investment is expected to create 210 direct jobs, bringing the project to as many as 750 direct jobs across three campuses.
  • Amazon and STACK Infrastructure will continue development across Caddo and Bossier parishes; Amazon also plans to invest up to $400 million in public water infrastructure and says it has provided nearly $500,000 in grants since February.
  • The data centers will primarily use air cooling, with water used when temperatures exceed approximately 85 degrees; construction is expected to support up to 2,250 jobs for local contractors, skilled tradespeople and suppliers.
• Aug 18, 2026

  Data centers need power now. Natural gas is filling the gap

  Bloomberg is reporting that rapid AI and data center growth is driving developers to build private natural gas power plants to avoid long grid connection delays.

  • Ninety-nine proposed plants tracked by BloombergNEF could emit about 318 million metric tons of CO2 annually at industry-standard rates, or roughly 20% of current U.S. power-sector emissions.
  • Many projects are concentrated in Texas; the story says some developers are considering solar power and battery storage, but natural gas remains attractive for around-the-clock power.
  • This article is commentary/reporting on a Bloomberg investigation and references large projects involving Amazon and Microsoft, rather than announcing a new project itself.
• Aug 17, 2026

  Amazon Explores Grid Connection for 8,000-Acre AI Campus

  Amazon has announced that it is exploring how its planned Texas AI campus power system could transition from behind-the-meter supply to front-of-the-meter grid service.

  • Amazon said it is actively exploring a grid-connected transition for the campus and wants the energy infrastructure to eventually add supply for other customers; it did not disclose timing, ERCOT filing status, or requested grid capacity.
  • The campus is tied to GW Ranch in Pecos County, Texas, with power to be supplied by Pacifico Energy; a TCEQ preliminary determination describes a 5,000 MW natural-gas plant with 35 simple-cycle turbines and notes the plant would serve an on-site AI data center rather than the local utility distribution system.
• Aug 17, 2026

  Reimagining the ‘human side’ is key to unlocking tech-driven innovation in the Middle East

  Strategy& argues that Middle East organizations should pair heavy tech investment with human-centric operating models to unlock sustained innovation.

  • The article says innovation depends on empowered teams, flat decision-making, and talent models built for speed, accountability, and experimentation; it cites examples from Amazon, ING, GE, Google, and OpenAI.
  • It references regional investment context, including $14.9 billion in Saudi tech and AI investment at LEAP 2025, a broader $100 billion AI initiative under Project Transcendence, and a $15.2 billion Microsoft-backed AI and cloud build-out in the UAE.
  • This is an opinion/commentary piece, not a new corporate announcement; it summarizes known regional tech investment trends and recommends organizational changes rather than announcing a deal.
• Aug 16, 2026

  AI infrastructure needs clear environmental rules

  Policy Circle published an opinion article arguing that India should set advance rules on power and water use for data-centre clusters supporting AI infrastructure.

  • The piece says Microsoft, Google, Amazon Web Services and others have announced large investments in cloud and AI infrastructure in India, and cites growing demand in Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Visakhapatnam.
  • It argues for published environmental guardrails, cumulative reviews of grid and water demand, and standardized disclosure of electricity consumption and water use; it references experience in the United States, Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany.
• Aug 13, 2026

  Texas Governor Halts Data Center Grid Connections Pending Audit

  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered state electric grid regulators to conduct a sweeping audit of every data center project seeking to connect to the Texas grid.

  • Abbott’s order halts new interconnections until the review is complete and directs ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to verify and audit all data center projects moving through the interconnection process.
  • The order requires projects to disclose financial incentives, power source, water supply for cooling, community impact mitigation, and ownership / controlling-interest information; companies including Core Scientific, Vantage Data Centers, SB Energy, Meta, OpenAI, Google, Amazon, Oracle, Digital Realty, QTS Data Centers, Mara and Skybox Datacenters have said they will comply, while one unnamed developer and Diode ended projects.
  • Abbott’s Aug. 3 order builds on a June 10 directive establishing statewide standards, and the story notes Texas has more than 1,800 projects seeking connections and 474 gigawatts of requests, about 90% from data centers.
• Aug 13, 2026

  Google, Microsoft and Nvidia back 800V DC standard for AI data centers

  Google, Microsoft and Nvidia are working through the Open Compute Project to establish 800VDC as an open standard for high-density AI data centers.

  • The companies are collaborating on common requirements for 800VDC power distribution, including power conversion, power quality, system interfaces, and safety.
  • The article says the effort began being presented through OCP in 2025 and has moved toward formal specifications for the data-center supply chain.
  • It cites potential efficiency benefits of 50% to 80% lower copper usage, 8% to 12% annual energy-related OpEx reduction, and $4 million to $8 million CapEx savings per 10 MW build.
  • It also notes AWS has not committed to 800VDC and is reportedly redesigning AI data centers through its internal Titus initiative for GB200-class systems and future Vera Rubin hardware.
• Aug 12, 2026

  Roundup: Caddo hits pause / Inflation eases / AI at work

  Caddo Parish official John-Paul Young plans to propose a two-year moratorium on new data-center tax incentives while the parish studies their long-term effects and risks.

  • The proposal would pause new tax incentives for two years and would not stop data centers from being built or affect the Amazon Web Services campus already under construction.
  • Young cited concerns about environmental impacts, water use, increased heat, and utility costs; a committee is expected to study the issues and report back before the commission votes on future policy.
• Aug 11, 2026

  Why Ascension is prepping now for data centers

  Ascension Parish is preparing to regulate data centers before any company has proposed a project there.

  • The Ascension Parish Council moved to draft rules for a development type not yet present in the parish, including setbacks, noise limits, zoning classifications, and other standards; the proposal will go to the Planning and Zoning Commission and then back for a vote, with public hearings expected.
  • The article frames the move as a response to nearby Louisiana projects, including Meta’s more than $50 billion Richland Parish campus, Amazon’s$12 billion investment in Caddo and Bossier, Applied Digital’s$3.6 billion AI facility in Rapides, and Hut 8’s$12.5 billion bitcoin-mining data center in West Feliciana.
• Aug 11, 2026

  AWS Data Center Withdrawal Signals Growing Political, Community Challenges

  AWS has withdrawn its proposed data center project in Calvert County, Maryland, while the county prepares to consider a six-month moratorium on new data center site plan approvals.

  • AWS pulled its application for a 2.5 million-square-foot project near Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, which had planned three campuses, eight data center buildings, and up to 500 MW of capacity supplied by Constellation Energy.
  • Calvert County confirmed the withdrawal on August 4 and scheduled a public hearing for August 18 on a temporary six-month moratorium; AWS said it remains committed to Maryland and cited broader infrastructure priorities, while community opposition and a petition exceeding 10,000 signatures were noted in the article.