Arkansas Data Center Intel

Recent Arkansas data center news

• Jan 21, 2026

  ERMCO Expands Transformer Manufacturing West with New Arizona Facility

  ERMCO announced it will open a new 566,121-square-foot three-phase transformer manufacturing facility in Waddell, Maricopa County, Arizona.

  • Facility details: The plant is 566,121 square feet, located in Waddell (≈30 miles west of Phoenix), will focus on three-phase transformer production, is expected to be operational in 2027, and foundational work will begin this year; the project is expected to create more than 500 jobs in engineering, skilled trades, and operations.
  • Context and justification: The announcement cites ongoing transformer supply shortages, drivers such as aging grid infrastructure, rapid load growth from data centers and electrification, and states site selection was influenced by proximity to Western U.S. customers, Arizona’s business climate, and a skilled labor market. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Inc. and currently employs nearly 3,500 workers across facilities in Tennessee, Georgia, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Texas, Quebec, and Mexico.
• Jan 14, 2026

  EPA tries to narrow water law powers

  The Environmental Protection Agency proposed a rule to narrow states’ and authorized tribes’ authority under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act to review and condition federally regulated projects.

  • Main action: The EPA’s proposal would limit the scope of Section 401 reviews to focus on direct discharges to federally regulated waters, set clear applicant submission requirements, impose strict review deadlines, and require states/tribes to fully explain any conditions or permit denials. A final rule is expected in the spring after a public comment period.
  • Background and specifics: The proposal largely reinstates Trump-era constraints, follows the Biden administration’s 2023 rule that allowed states to “holistically evaluate” project impacts, and comes after the 2023 Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision that narrowed federal jurisdiction over some waters. The rule explicitly targets reviews of projects including natural gas pipelines, dams and data centers, and drew criticism from Earthjustice saying EPA’s concerns are “baseless.”
• Jan 13, 2026

  US carbon pollution rose in 2025. Experts blame cold winter, high natural gas prices, data centers

  Rhodium Group calculated that U.S. greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2025 compared with 2024.

  • Main finding: The Rhodium Group estimated the U.S. emitted 5.9 billion tons (5.35 billion metric tons) of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2025, an increase of 139 million tons (126 million metric tons) from 2024; the report cites a cool winter, explosive growth of data centers and cryptocurrency mining, and higher natural gas prices as primary drivers, with coal generation up 13% contributing substantially to the power-sector increase.
  • Additional details and context:Solar generation jumped 34%, pushing solar past hydro and bringing zero-carbon sources to 42% of U.S. power; the Rhodium authors say Trump administration policy rollbacks had not been in place long enough to affect 2025 data, and the report’s earlier 2035 projections have been revised down (projected pollution drop now about one-third less than prior estimates).
• Dec 25, 2025

  Arkansas’s best environment stories of 2025

  Arkansas Times published a roundup of the state’s most notable farm and environment stories from 2025.

  • Main roundup and key actions: The piece summarizes reporting on Entergy proposals including the 745 MW Jefferson Power Station gas plant, the proposed Cypress Solar array (600 MW) plus 350 MW battery storage tied partially to Google’s West Memphis data center (regulators approved a special rate contract with Google); Entergy customers were estimated to face up to $20 average monthly bill increases within five years. It also documents state action preserving the Buffalo River moratorium on hog CAFO permits and a West Memphis data center groundbreaking attended by Gov. Sarah Sanders (Oct. 2, 2025).
  • Background and other details:Standard Lithium and majors (Equinor, ExxonMobil, Albemarle, Chevron) are advancing south Arkansas lithium projects with construction likely in 2026 and Standard Lithium targeting production in 2028; the article reports on tornado damage (a homeowner cited $60,000 in damages) and FEMA funding decisions (individual assistance approved but local government funding initially denied), and highlights local disputes over wind projects (Nimbus wind farm in Carroll County) and the farm economic crisis driving Hallie Shoffner’s U.S. Senate campaign.
• Dec 19, 2025

  House passes bill that could fast-track AI infrastructure projects

  The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan permitting reform bill (the SPEED Act) to modernize NEPA and accelerate federal approvals for infrastructure projects.

  • Key action: The House passed the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act in a 221-196 vote to limit federal actions that trigger NEPA reviews and speed permitting for infrastructure. The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and promoted in statements by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), and it now heads to the Senate.
  • Context & related developments: The advancement coincides with a federal push to expand AI infrastructure: President Donald Trump launched the Genesis Mission/American Science and Security Platform; the U.S. Department of Energy announced collaboration with 24 tech companies (including Google, AWS, Microsoft, OpenAI, Nvidia). Notable figures and amounts: AWS announced up to $50 billion for AI infrastructure; OpenAI–AWS partnership cited at $38 billion; Microsoft reported $11.1 billion in long-term asset spending in one quarter; McKinsey estimates $6.7 trillion needed for data centers by 2030 (with $5.2 trillion for AI-ready capex). The Genesis Mission cites an aggressive 270-day timeline for demonstrating capabilities.
• Dec 19, 2025

  US Expected To Install Over 7 GW of Wind Capacity In 2025, 36% More Than 2024

  Wood Mackenzie and the American Clean Power Association released a report projecting the U.S. will add more than 7 GW of wind capacity in 2025 (a 36% increase from 2024) and remain on track to install 46 GW between 2025–2029.

  • Main announcement: The report forecasts >7 GW of U.S. wind capacity additions in 2025 and an unchanged five-year outlook of 46 GW (2025–2029); capacity additions are expected to peak at 10.7 GW in 2026 and 12.7 GW in 2027, with 3.8 GW queued for Q4 2025 and Q3 2025 installations at 932 MW. It highlights major onshore projects including Pattern Energy’s 3.5-GW SunZia and Invenergy’s 998-MW Towner Energy Center, and notes Vineyard Wind connected 15 turbines and delivered about 200 GWh in the first nine months of the year.
  • Background and details: The report cites utilities committing ~160 GW of large-load additions and expects peak demand growth averaging ~3% through 2029, with data centres accounting for roughly 59 GW of the projected 90 GW peak-demand increase. It flags risks from elevated turbine costs, tariffs, permitting delays, and expects U.S. onshore wind capex to rise ~5% through 2029; repowering activity is expected to add about 2.5 GW across 18 projects in the next three years.
• Dec 18, 2025

  Environmentalists and Affordability Duke It Out in New York

  New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has shifted to an affordability-focused energy agenda, approving the NESE natural gas pipeline, reversing opposition to new nuclear, streamlining permitting, and establishing a $500 million Empire AI Consortium to support power-hungry AI capacity in the state.

  • Main actions and timeline: Hochul approved the NESE natural gas pipeline (reported Nov 2025) and directed the New York Power Authority to pursue a new zero-emission advanced nuclear plant; her administration has streamlined permitting for electric power and transmission infrastructure and announced the Empire AI Consortium — a $500 million public-private partnership to advance AI/data-center capacity in New York. The NESE approval was explicitly framed by Hochul as a return to an “all-of-the-above” policy and is cited by supporters (Breakthrough Institute letter) as likely to lower regional costs and carbon by displacing heating oil.
  • Background and related developments: The House passed the SPEED Act (sponsored by Rep. Bruce Westerman) to limit NEPA reviews and expedite permitting; Diablo Canyon received a state permit to continue operating for another 20 years but still needs a final NRC license extension and state legislative approval to operate after 2030. Environmental groups (e.g., League of Conservation Voters, Food & Water Watch) criticized Hochul’s moves in reports and public statements (December 2025 LCV report; quotes from Bill McKibben and Alex Beauchamp).
• Dec 10, 2025

  Springdale residents, environmental groups gather to oppose data center; more events planned

  TribLIVE’s homepage lists a roundup of local, regional and national headlines, including a story that Springdale residents and environmental groups are organizing to oppose a proposed data center and plan additional events.

  • Main announcement: TribLIVE highlights that Springdale residents and environmental groups have gathered to oppose a data center project and have more events planned to organize opposition; the story is listed in the Valley News Dispatch section with related local coverage.
  • Other concrete details on the page:Greensburg Pension Commission returned $62K to a former chief; an editorial references a $3 million moonlighting failure in Pittsburgh; a wire story notes Paramount challenging a $72 billion Netflix offer for Warner Bros; the roundup also includes a sustainability piece on holiday shopping emissions and a story on Expiring Obamacare subsidies affecting Pennie enrollment.
• Dec 2, 2025 · RMI

  The Five Types of Electro-Industrial States

  Rocky Mountain Institute presents a typology classifying US states into five electro-industrial archetypes.

  • Main announcement/action: RMI authors classify states into five archetypes — Momentum Hubs (Arizona, California), Fast‑Track Builders (Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Ohio, Idaho), Policy Champions (New York, Michigan, Virginia, Oregon, Washington, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania), Open‑Door Starters (Vermont, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Mississippi, Iowa), and Early‑Stage Starters (Missouri, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Maine, Alabama, Louisiana, Indiana, West Virginia, Montana, Arkansas). The typology is based on policy reliability, regulatory ease, economic capacity, physical infrastructure (power and interconnection), and market momentum.
  • Background and details: The analysis highlights that market momentum and policy reliability should operate in tandem; low regulatory burdens accelerate short-term investment but may strain local housing and infrastructure without accompanying policy ambition. The authors reference the report GREASE Lightning as a policy playbook for designing investment-led, state-driven electro-industrial strategies.
• Nov 4, 2025

  Power, Proximity, Policy: The Legal Landscape of Siting Data Centers Near Natural Gas Resources

  Michelman Robinson partners Warren Koshofer and Seth Leibenstein analyze the legal and regulatory considerations for siting data centers near U.S. natural gas resources.

  • Main announcement/action: The article provides a legal and practical guide on siting data centers adjacent to natural gas infrastructure, noting concrete facts such as data center loads often exceeding 100 megawatts per site and that natural gas supplies more than 40% of U.S. electricity. It identifies regional hubs (Texas/Permian Basin; Appalachian Basin — Marcellus & Utica; Midcontinent/Great Plains; Rockies — DJ and Powder River basins; Gulf South — Louisiana & Mississippi) and highlights relevant regulators like ERCOT and FERC, plus contractual vehicles such as PPAs and gas tolling arrangements.
  • Background and details: The piece outlines regulatory and compliance requirements (Clean Air Act permitting, Section 401 water quality certifications, state environmental reviews), flags evolving ESG and carbon disclosure pressures (SEC proposals, IRA incentives), and lists states considering restrictions on fossil-fueled generation for new data centers (Oregon, Virginia, Illinois). Contact details for the authors are provided: Warren Koshofer (212-730-7700; wkoshofer@mrllp.com) and Seth Leibenstein (212-730-7700; sliebenstein@mrllp.com).