Arizona Data Center Intel

Recent Arizona data center news

• Mar 20, 2026

  Exowatt Expands to Austin as Power Constraints Reshape AI Infrastructure

  Exowatt opened an 11-acre campus in Austin to accelerate deployment of modular solar energy systems and address power constraints for AI infrastructure.

  • Main announcement: Exowatt has opened an 11-acre campus in Austin containing 48,000 square feet of office, manufacturing, and warehouse space to speed deployment of its modular solar energy systems; the company also launched ExoRise, a business unit to deliver turnkey “powered land” in solar-rich regions (West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada) to compress deployment timelines.
  • Background and details: The move responds to increasing grid congestion, interconnection delays, and surging AI load requests across US markets (notably Texas and the Southwest); Exowatt previously received a $50 million Series A extension backed by Overmatch Ventures, and company and industry leaders (Hannan Happi, Steven Dickens, Evan Loomis) emphasize modular and behind-the-meter solutions as strategic responses.
• Mar 19, 2026

  US Roundup: solar-plus-storage projects advance across the country

  Google and DTE Energy have announced plans to develop a data centre project in Michigan (Project Cannoli) supported by 1,600MW of solar PV and 450MW of energy storage, with Google funding the resources and DTE operating them under a 20-year Clean Capacity Accelerator Agreement (CCAA).

  • Main announcement: Google and DTE will deliver 1,600MW of solar PV paired with 450MW of storage (specified as 400MW/1,600MWh BESS plus 50MW of LDES), under a 20-year CCAA; Google will provide DTE with approximately 300MW of Zonal Resource Credits (ZRCs) at no cost and commit US$10 million to programmes to reduce household energy bills in Michigan.
  • Additional details & background: The filing identifies the site as Project Cannoli (potentially in Van Buren Township); Google recently closed a US$4.75 billion acquisition of TPG Rise Climate’s Intersect Power stake and has announced multi‑billion data centre and AI capital plans (Google cited US$40 billion for three Texas data centres and US$185 billion in AI‑related capex for the year). Related US project announcements in the article include: Sunraycer (620MWdc solar, 477MWh BESS in Texas), Invenergy/SRP SunDog (200MW solar + 200MW/800MWh BESS in Arizona), Idemitsu Azalea (60MW/152MWh operating in California), and Clēnera’s US$304 million financing for the 120MW/400MWh Crimson Orchard project in Idaho.
• Mar 19, 2026

  Tariffs Add Cost, but Component Shortages Dictate Data Center Timelines

  The article reports on fluctuating US tariffs and persistent component shortages affecting data center construction.

  • Key developments on tariffs (main announcement): The US Supreme Court in February 2026 invalidated portions of certain tariff measures, prompting the Trump administration to issue revised tariff measures while legal challenges continue; affected companies are suing to recover duties paid and litigation remains ongoing, creating uncertainty over import costs and duty recoveries.
  • Supply-chain and project-level details:DRAM and HBM are reported sold out through 2028, SSD and HDD availability is constrained (Western Digital capacity tight into 2027), and Micron has announced a planned $100 billion fabrication plant in New York; hyperscalers are absorbing most available accelerators and memory, and owners are shifting procurement (increase in OFCI — owner-furnished, contractor-installed) to manage extreme lead times.
• Mar 16, 2026

  The Frog Is Dead: North America’s Power Grid Faces Its Biggest Reckoning in a Generation

  S&P Global Energy warned that North American power demand is accelerating—driven in large part by a surge in data center development—creating a near-term supply crisis that will require rapid investment, permitting, and technology shifts.

  • Main announcement/action:S&P Global Energy projects much higher near-term electricity demand (now 2.5–3%+ annual growth vs. prior <1%), reports 43 GW of U.S. gas turbine orders in 2025, highlights multi-year turbine backlogs (up to ~5 years), and flags regional investment flows (largest 2025 turbine share to MISO, SPP, and the southeastern U.S.). The firm also called out data center clusters in Columbus, Ohio with new facilities hitting the grid within 3–4 years, and recommends watching natural-gas fuel cells and a wave of IPOs in 2026 for geothermal, SMRs, and distributed generation.
  • Background and supporting details:Nuclear has bipartisan support but needs project financing and DOE support (DOE pledged a billion-dollar loan commitment for the Crane Energy Center/Three Mile Island restart); S&P identifies >5 GW of potential nuclear uprates with 1–2 GW announced; M&A valuation comparators cited were ~$800/kW (acquired plants 18–24 months ago), $1,500/kW (new-build then), and ~$2,400/kW (current acquisition costs); recent infrastructure transaction cited: $11 billion take-private deal involving GIP, EQT, Qatar Investment Authority, and AES.

  Event: Global Power Markets Conference

  • Date: April 13–15, 2026
  • Location: Four Seasons Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Agenda/subject: Global power market trends including grid investment, generation mix, storage, and policy (hosted by S&P Global Energy)
• Mar 15, 2026

  AI data centres face backlash from Mayors in US cities over power use, pollution fears

  Mayors in major US cities are challenging tech companies over data centre energy demands and local pollution impacts.

  • Main action: Mayors (including Tim Kelly of Chattanooga, Kate Gallego of Phoenix and Larry Klein of Sunnyvale) are publicly pressuring big tech over the environmental and infrastructure costs of AI data centres — citing strained power grids, water supply depletion, and local pollution. The White House also convened big tech this month to demand companies bear the cost of powering new data centres. Key project details: xAI is reported to be running at least 18 methane gas turbines at its South Memphis site; Mississippi regulators approved generators despite local resistance; APS warned that approving all proposed data centres would push electricity demand to 19,000 megawatts (more than double the grid’s record peak).
  • Background and other details: The discussion surfaced at SXSW in Austin, Texas where mayors raised concerns about non-disclosure agreements that keep communities uninformed until late in the process and contrasted more transparent operators (Microsoft, Google) with less transparent firms. Phoenix is highlighted as a magnet for data centres due to tax incentives and low regulation. Reporting sources include AFP and an NBC News poll showing public skepticism about AI.
• Mar 13, 2026

  Digital Infrastructure Boom Faces Complex Labor Crisis

  William Self of Mercer warned that labor — not capital, land, or energy — is the single biggest constraint on the current data center buildout during a Marsh-hosted webinar on March 9.

  • Main announcement/action:William Self (Mercer) stated the workforce shortfall could be 75,000–140,000 skilled workers over the next few years; he said companies must plan for two talent phases (construction trades vs. long-term operations) and build labor pipelines via apprenticeships, community college partnerships, veteran pipelines, and in-house academies. The webinar was hosted by Marsh on March 9.
  • Background and details: Self flagged geographic shifts from hubs (Northern Virginia, Phoenix, Dallas) to emerging locales (Columbus, Ohio; South Bend, Ind.; Abilene, Texas; rural Louisiana; Texas Panhandle), noted a resulting boomtown dynamic and service shortfalls, reported cross-industry poaching (power/utilities, defense, process industries), mentioned a risk-based pay response to a “psychological burden” tied to conflict in the Middle East, and cited typical data center technician pay of $60,000–$90,000 annually.
• Mar 12, 2026

  Valley Data Center to be Acquired with Plans for Major Expansion

  RadiusDC has announced a definitive agreement to acquire phoenixNAP’s Phoenix, Arizona data center and colocation business, with closing expected in Q2 2026.

  • Acquisition details: RadiusDC will acquire the existing Phoenix colocation facility, interconnection infrastructure, and development rights; upon closing RadiusDC will expand DC1 to 8 megawatts of IT power and develop DC2 to add up to 18 megawatts, with initial DC2 phases expected online beginning first half of 2028, positioning the Phoenix I campus to scale to approximately 26 megawatts of total critical IT power capacity; closing is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
  • Background & advisors: Approximately 80% of phoenixNAP’s global business will remain independently owned and operated by phoenixNAP, which will remain a tenant in the Phoenix facility; financial and legal advisors include J.P. Morgan (financial advisor to RadiusDC), BofA Securities (exclusive financial advisor to phoenixNAP), Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Snell & Wilmer LLP, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.
• Mar 12, 2026

  Fossil generation could rise with faster-than-expected growth in data center power demand

  The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) published an analysis showing that faster-than-expected electricity demand growth driven by data centers could increase natural gas and coal generation and raise wholesale electricity prices.

  • Main analysis and assumptions: The EIA produced a high demand growth scenario in which 2026 and 2027 growth rates are 50% higher than the February STEO in data-center-heavy regions, while other regions are +1 percentage point above STEO; the scenario assumes no additional generating capacity beyond the February STEO and applies an assumed +$0.50/MMBtu increase in natural gas delivered prices across regions.
  • Key modeled outcomes and metrics: Under the scenario, natural gas generation rises to +7.3% (123 BkWh) between 2025–2027 (vs 1.7% baseline), coal generation declines by 5.0% (37 BkWh) nationwide in the high case, and ERCOT 2027 wholesale prices model +$37/MWh above the February STEO (excluding ERCOT the average 2027 wholesale price is +$2.10/MWh above the STEO forecast of $48/MWh).
• Mar 11, 2026

  Kelly Outlines His Vision For AI Regulation

  Sen. Mark Kelly has proposed the “AI Horizon Fund” to pool contributions from data center companies to pay for electrical infrastructure upgrades and increased capacity.

  • Main action: The Senator presented his AI Horizon Fund proposal at the Brookings Institution on March 11, 2026, calling for data center companies to pool funds to pay for electrical infrastructure improvements and increased capacity so ratepayers don’t bear increased costs; he referenced his “AI For America” white paper (released last September) as the starting point for Senate AI regulation.
  • Context and details: Kelly highlighted community pushback in Arizona over data centers’ energy and water use, noting requests to use the energy equivalent of 50,000 homes; he also criticized President Donald Trump’s “Rate Payer Protection Pledge” as effectively a “handshake deal”, and referenced a post on X about those concerns.
• Mar 11, 2026

  General Assembly Budget Conferees Need to Invest in Quality of Life, Not Big Tech

  The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) has called on Virginia lawmakers to eliminate or substantially limit the sales tax credit on data center equipment to redirect revenue to public services.

  • Main action: PEC submitted a letter to General Assembly leadership and budget conferees requesting elimination or phased reduction of the sales tax exemption on data center equipment, arguing the exemption cost more than $1.9 billion in FY2025 and could have raised state revenue from $31.2 billion to $33.1 billion if collected. The letter identifies priorities for redirected revenue: water supply and wastewater treatment, transportation and transit, schools, childcare, and food security.
  • Background and details: PEC cites Dominion Energy data that it is receiving requests for ~10 additional data center applications monthly totaling 2–3 GW, bringing cumulative demand to 70 GW, while current peak demand is 24 GW with >36% electricity imports. PEC estimates Dominion will need to invest over $100 billion in generation, transmission and substation infrastructure (including nearly $30 billion for transmission) to meet the backlog over the next ten years.