Arkansas Data Center Intel

Recent Arkansas data center news

• Sep 30, 2026

  Roundup: Entergy’s grid boost / US economy / Trade gap widens

  The article reports that the U.S. Energy Department has announced a $13.7 million award to Entergy for a grid modernization project.

  • The four-year project will modernize power delivery across Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi, using dynamic line rating technology and other upgrades on 1,125 miles of transmission lines.
  • The upgrades are expected to increase capacity by 29% to 61%, reduce congestion, defer costly transmission investments, and support demand from industrial, manufacturing and data center development.
• Sep 17, 2026

  Coalitions, states rush to attract talent to skilled trades

  The article reports on growing interest in skilled trades in the U.S. as AI and retirements intensify workforce shortages, while highlighting several education and industry initiatives.

  • A Thumbtack survey of over 2,400 U.S. adults found 82% of Gen Z believe skilled trades offer better long-term job security, and nearly half have started learning or are considering a career change.
  • The U.S. Department of Education launched the Connecting Talent to Opportunity Challenge in January and in June announced $15 million in prize funds and technical assistance for 10 states; Lowe’s Foundation launched a trades coalition with more than 75 organizations aiming to train 1 million people by 2035. Maryland’s Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local 486 accepted 170 apprentices out of 1,300 applicants and plans a new training center in late 2028.
• Sep 8, 2026

  Microsoft inks long-term PPA for Washington solar project

  Microsoft has become the long-term offtaker for electricity and environmental attributes from Cypress Creek Energy’s Ostrea Solar project in Washington, which has reached commercial operation.

  • The Ostrea Solar project in Yakima County, Washington adds 104 MWdc / 80 MWac and is owned and operated by Cypress Creek for up to 40 years; the terms of Microsoft’s agreement were not disclosed.
  • Cypress Creek said the project reflects approximately $180 million in private investment, will generate an estimated $13.3 million in state and local tax revenues, and helped conserve about 275 acres of shrubsteppe habitat; Microsoft’s involvement comes as it expands its AI/data center footprint and reported higher emissions in 2025.
• Sep 1, 2026

  Mississippi Wealth          

  This article is an analysis and commentary piece about Mississippi’s wealth geography and investment patterns; it does not announce a new first-time corporate deal, but references ongoing regional investment trends.

  • Central Mississippi is said to be drawing billions into data centers and energy, while North Mississippi is building on advanced manufacturing, technology and logistics, and the Gulf Coast is growing in shipbuilding, defense, aerospace and maritime technology.
  • The piece highlights that Mississippi’s reported millionaire density may understate wealth held in farmland, timberland, mineral and royalty interests, and privately held family businesses; it also cites Oxford/Lafayette County as a growing magnet for affluent families and notes Tunica County now has five operating casinos after recent closures.
• Jul 28, 2026

  Climate Change Solutions - July 28, 2026

  Environmental and Energy Study Institute has published a Climate Change Solutions newsletter highlighting climate data access, data center health impacts, nuclear energy, and several congressional bills.

  • The newsletter spotlights a new online platform, Climate.us, and an interview with Rebecca Lindsey, who discusses filling the gap left by the now-defunct Climate.gov.
  • It also summarizes recent legislative activity, including the House passage of the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act (H.R. 8790) and Senate movement on the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (S.4949) and the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act of 2026 (S.5045).
  • A separate article in the newsletter discusses data center health impacts, noting emissions from on-site diesel generators and from natural gas and coal power plants used to power data centers.
• Jul 23, 2026

  White House Expands Data Center Ratepayer Pledge as Congress Moves to Codify Protections

  The White House expanded its voluntary Ratepayer Protection Pledge to 187 utilities, electric cooperatives, and data-center developers, while Congress advanced the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act from committee 52-0.

  • The White House said the pledge now covers 187 organizations plus 23 governors, and the coalition “protects” 263 million Americans; signatories commit to fund generation and grid upgrades for their data-center loads without shifting costs to other ratepayers.
  • The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced H.R. 9340 on July 21; the bill would require state regulators and nonregulated utilities to consider a large-load standard for sites with at least 100 MW peak demand and recover the full incremental cost of grid upgrades. New York’s Executive Order 62 separately put permits for 50 MW+ data centers on hold pending an environmental review.
• Jul 14, 2026 · Google

  Our largest solar and battery storage project ever

  Google has announced that it broke ground on the Steel River Energy Center in Mississippi County, Arkansas, alongside local leaders and Cypress Creek Energy.

  • Google says it will act as an anchor investor and offtaker for the first two phases, which will add 1.6 GWdc of solar generation and 1.9 GWh of battery storage to the regional grid.
  • The full three-phase project is expected to deliver 2.5 GWdc of solar and 2.9 GWh of storage by 2029; construction will use 100% U.S.-made structural steel from U.S. Steel’s Big River facility and PACO Steel’s Arkansas plant.
  • Google also committed $5 million for Arkansas energy affordability initiatives, and the project is said to create about 700 local jobs and generate an estimated $300 million in tax revenue over its life.
• Jul 14, 2026

  Google signs vPPA with Cypress Creek for 2.45GW solar project in Arkansas - report

  Google has announced a long-term virtual power purchase agreement with Cypress Creek for the full output of the Steel River Energy Center in Mississippi County, Arkansas.

  • The project is under development and is planned in three phases, reaching 2.45GW of solar and 2.9GWh of battery energy storage at full buildout; the first phase will deliver 1.6GW of solar and 2GWh of battery storage.
  • The project is expected to be completed in 2029; the vPPA is at a fixed price and supports Cypress Creek’s $3.5 billion financing secured last month, while Google receives the environmental credits tied to the facility.
• Jun 11, 2026

  Sen. Cotton Alleges Chinese Influence Behind U.S. Data Center Backlash, Demands DOJ Probe

  Sen. Tom Cotton has asked the Department of Justice to investigate alleged foreign influence efforts targeting U.S. AI infrastructure and domestic opposition to data center construction.

  • Main action: Sen. Tom Cotton sent a June 10 letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche requesting a DOJ probe into what he describes as “a network of foreign actors, led by the Chinese Communist Party,” and alleges U.S. nonprofits funded by Shanghai-based Neville Roy Singham have channeled money into domestic advocacy opposing data center development.
  • Background and details:Beijing is reported to be preparing a ~$295 billion, five-year plan to finance a nationwide network of data centers (state-owned telecom companies to operate many facilities); an Ipsos poll found 64% oppose rapid AI data center construction, 77% worry about higher electricity prices, and 57% would oppose a data center in their own community. The article also cites Sen. Bernie Sanders’ recent panel (including a Tsinghua University professor) and his proposed temporary federal moratorium on new data center construction until grid and environmental impacts are studied.
• Jun 3, 2026

  Arkansas County’s Data Center Moratorium Failed Over Vote Miscount

  Pulaski County Quorum Court’s proposed yearlong moratorium on data center development will not take effect after officials determined the vote had been miscounted.

  • County Clerk Terri Hollingsworth said the measure received 8 votes, short of the 10 needed for passage (the original count showed 10 votes). The ordinance was originally sponsored by Justice of the Peace Julie Blackwood, who plans to reintroduce it as soon as she can. The failed ordinance included an exemption for AVAIO Digital Leo.
  • AVAIO Digital Leo is a planned data center near Wrightsville; project manager Thomas Nesel said the center’s daily water demand would be about 200,000 gallons during warmer months and it would initially require 150 megawatts, with demand estimated to reach 1 gigawatt as the facility grows. Republican Justice of the Peace Phil Stowers supported the exemption, saying the company had “spent a heck of a lot of money to invest in this community.” The article also notes similar local actions: Denver passed a yearlong moratorium and Minneapolis passed a six-month moratorium on new data centers.