California Data Center Intel

Recent California data center news

• Jun 1, 2026 · Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

  Targeted Pressure: How Chinese Manufacturing Competition Impacts US States

  The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) has published a report finding Chinese industrial policy is reshaping global manufacturing and harming industries across every U.S. state.

  • Main finding & method: The ITIF report (June 1, 2026) analyzes one “national power industry” per state using County Business Patterns employment data, HS/SITC export proxies, and global market-share series to conclude that state-backed Chinese subsidies, export pushes, and overcapacity are driving down prices and pressuring U.S. producers in sectors such as semiconductors, batteries, aircraft, and fabricated metals.
  • Key facts, numbers, and timelines:China plans ~$150 billion in semiconductor investment through 2030 vs. $52 billion under the U.S. CHIPS funding; the report cites $63.3 billion Chinese semiconductor spending in H1 2025, TSMC’s $165 billion U.S. investment announcement, GE Appliances’ $490 million Appliance Park investment (2025), and state/national export shares and HS-code trade series used throughout the analyses.
• May 31, 2026

  ESG Today: Week in Review

  ESG Today published a weekly roundup of ESG headlines summarizing announcements and deals across sustainability, finance, reporting and clean-energy projects.

  • Main roundup content: The newsletter highlights multiple concrete actions, including IPX Power securing $4.95 billion (reported in the roundup as $5 billion) to build a large California solar & storage project, Enbridge developing a $1.2 billion solar & storage project to power Meta data centers, EU Commission awarding €400 million to industrial heat decarbonization projects, and Acelen Renewables securing $1.5 billion to build a billion-liter SAF project in Brazil. It also reports corporate and regulatory moves such as the SEC launching a process to rescind corporate climate reporting rules and McDonald’s missing its 2030 value-chain decarbonization target.
  • Additional details & background: The roundup lists multiple fundraises and M&A: Thea Energy $100 million, Focused Energy $240 million, Caudal Energy $5.6 million, P2 Science $23 million, D-CRBN $20 million, and DigitalBridge’s $1 billion acquisition of ArcLight. It also notes policy and reporting developments (IFRS and GRI collaboration, TISFD reporting framework, New York law delaying state climate goals) and sustainability flows data (Morningstar: sustainable fund flows turned positive in Q1 2026).
• May 29, 2026

  A small newsroom, a big year: Planet Detroit’s 2026 Annual Report

  Planet Detroit has published its 2026 Annual Report.

  • Report release and impact: The 2026 Annual Report documents reporting that changed outcomes, including coverage of the federal air pollution trial on Zug Island that led to a judge ordering DTE Energy and three subsidiaries to pay $100 million for Clean Air Act violations; it highlights Brian Allnutt’s data center accountability coverage (picked up by AP, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and The Toronto Star) and a state finding about Wyandotte stopping fluoridation that was corrected the same day as publication. The report also lists audience and organizational metrics: 385,878 readers in 2025 (trajectory toward ~510,000 in 2026), 15,000 newsletter subscribers, 7 staff, and a spring fundraising campaign closing at the end of the month.
  • Funding, programs, and timelines: The newsroom received a $100,000 Reynolds Journalism Institute fellowship stipend to build Civic Action Toolbox 2.0; the Kresge Foundation underwrites the Neighborhood Reporting Lab (20 new members this year); Isabelle Tavares’ work was supported by the Pulitzer Center, Earth Journalism Network, and Report for America. Planet Detroit plans to grow revenue from $525,000 in 2025 to $752,000 by 2028 via memberships, Seed Circle major-donor program, regional partnerships, and Planet Detroit Families. Upcoming items include the 2026 Environmental Voting Guide, Civic Action Toolbox 2.0, and an inaugural Solutions Summit.
• May 29, 2026

  Innovations in Offshore Data Centers: Chinese Undersea Deployments, US Floating Platforms, and Future Prospects

  China’s HiCloud has entered full commercial operation of an offshore wind-powered underwater data center with a stated 24 MW capacity off Shanghai (entered full operations in May 2026).

  • Commercial Shanghai UDC operating: HiCloud’s Lingang project reached full commercial operation in May 2026 after being launched in June 2025, completed in October 2025, and tested in February 2026; the site is reported to have 24 MW capacity, modules roughly 35 meters below the surface, a claimed PUE around 1.15, phased scaling from a 2.3 MW demo to 24 MW, and developer claims of 22.8% electricity reduction, eliminated water use, and >90% land-use reduction; reported participants include HiCloud, China Telecom, and LinkWise.
  • Additional verified actions and background: Panthalassa announced a $140 million Series B in May 2026 led by Peter Thiel to complete a pilot manufacturing facility near Portland, Oregon and accelerate deployment of its Ocean-3 wave-powered inference nodes; Microsoft’s Project Natick remains a key feasibility proof but Microsoft ended active subsea deployment in 2024; other entrants include Aikido Technologies’ AO60DC (15–18 MW turbine, ~10–12 MW compute per platform; Norway 100 kW PoC launching in 2026, UK commercial target 2028), the Yokohama floating demo launched March 25, 2026 (NYK, NTT Facilities, Eurus, MUFG), and a Mitsui/Hitachi/MOL MOU to study floating ship-conversion data centers with possible operations 2027 or later.
• May 29, 2026

  The Breaking Points: Water Is the New Constraint for AI Data Centers

  Data Center Knowledge reports that water infrastructure constraints are emerging as a major limit on AI data center expansion.

  • Main finding: Large AI data center proposals are requesting multi‑MGD water capacities (example: a Virginia campus requested up to 2 MGD initially, with potential future demand up to 8 MGD) and explicitly require continuous evaporative cooling for uninterrupted operations; these projected demands often exceed municipal water and wastewater planning assumptions.
  • Background and specifics: Researchers’ paper “Small Bottle, Big Pipe” estimates U.S. data centers could require 697 million to 1.45 billion gallons/day of new water capacity through 2030; Texas’ draft 2027 State Water Plan estimates roughly $174 billion in water infrastructure projects may be needed over the next 50 years to meet growing AI demand and related upgrades (reservoirs, treatment, reclaimed-water networks).
• May 27, 2026

  Cogent Communications to Sell 10 Data Centers to I Squared Capital

  Cogent Communications has agreed to sell 10 data centers to I Squared Capital for $225 million in cash.

  • Transaction details: Cogent is selling 10 data center facilities to I Squared Capital for $225 million (cash); the deal is expected to close in Q3 2026. The portfolio provides approximately 53 megawatts of power capacity and about 259,000 square feet of colocation space across nine U.S. markets (Phoenix; Anaheim, CA; Burbank, CA; Stockton, CA; Atlanta; Chicago; Elkridge, MD; Kansas City, MO; Nashville, TN; Houston).
  • Platform and investment plan:I Squared Capital will create a new U.S. data center operating platform focused on high-density deployments, colocation and AI inference infrastructure, and plans to invest $1 billion via customer-led expansion, capital investment and additional acquisitions; the facilities are fee simple, liquid-cooling enabled with room for expansion and positioned near local internet exchanges. I Squared is described as a Miami-based infrastructure investor with about $60 billion in assets under management.
• May 27, 2026

  US energy storage installations hit Q1 record, up 32% year over year: SEIA

  SEIA reported record 9.7 GWh of battery energy storage installed in Q1 2026.

  • Main announcement: SEIA said the U.S. installed 9.7 GWh of battery energy storage in Q1 2026 (a 32% YoY increase), with commercial & industrial 648 MWh, utility-scale 1.5 GW / 7.8 GWh, and residential 515 MWh; Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (for SEIA) forecasts 613 GWh of U.S. storage deployment by 2030.
  • Background and details: SEIA and Benchmark highlighted data centers as a major driver (example: Meta + Enbridge will build 365 MW solar colocated with 200 MW / 1.6 GWh of Tesla batteries to support a Cheyenne, WY data center with 8-hour discharge capability); SEIA also flagged 101 GW of clean projects under political threat and said 36% of projects due by 2030 could be affected; 13 states have storage targets and cumulative deployment leaders include California 60.6 GWh, Texas 29.2 GWh, Arizona 20.2 GWh.
• May 27, 2026

  Cogent to Sell Phoenix Data Center as Part of $225 Million National Portfolio Deal

  Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. has announced the sale of 10 U.S. data center facilities to an I Squared Capital-sponsored entity for $225 million in cash.

  • Sale details: Cogent will sell 10 facilities located in Phoenix, Anaheim, Burbank, Stockton, Atlanta, Chicago, Elkridge, Kansas City, Nashville, and Houston for $225 million in cash; the transaction is expected to close on the later of June 12, 2026 or the expiration/termination of the applicable Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period. (Cogent’s Tucson data center is not included in the announced sale.)
  • Portfolio & financing: The acquired portfolio comprises approximately 53 megawatts of installed power capacity and approximately 259,000 square feet of colocation space across nine U.S. markets; I Squared Capital has committed up to $1 billion to build the new U.S. data center operating platform via capital investment, customer-led expansion, and additional acquisitions. Proceeds from the sale are expected to support Cogent deleveraging tied to its 2023 Sprint wireline acquisition and will be contributed to Cogent Communications Group (its borrowing entity).
• May 25, 2026

  US installed 9.7GWh of new BESS in Q1 2026, SEIA reports

  SEIA released its Energy Storage Market Outlook Q2 2026 (ESMO) on 21 May reporting the US installed 9.7GWh of new battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity in Q1 2026.

  • Main announcement: SEIA’s ESMO reports 9.7GWh (6.77GW) of BESS entered operation in Q1 2026 (utility-scale + BTM), with 7.8GWh/1.5GW from utility-scale and 515MWh residential deployments; SEIA increased its 2030 installation forecast to over 610GWh. Report released 21 May, created in collaboration with Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.
  • Context & details: Q1 residential decline (28%) attributed to the expiration of the 25D tax credit and project front-loading into Q4 2025; SEIA cites 467 solar+storage projects with permits pending as vulnerable to delays. The note references major corporate LDES commitments: Google’s 30GWh iron-air deal with Form Energy and Meta’s reservation of up to 100GWh from Noon Energy; SEIA links higher storage interest to energy price volatility from geopolitical tensions (mentions US-Israel-Iran dynamics).
• May 22, 2026

  How utilities can ensure grid readiness: A holistic framework from NEOS Advisory

  NEOS Advisory has developed an integrated framework for utility readiness.

  • Main announcement: NEOS Advisory has published an integrated, iterative utility readiness framework that connects resource adequacy, hosting capacity, network master planning, digitalization, and investment planning into a single strategic capability. The article cites key factual metrics: the IEA forecasts global electricity demand growth of 3.6% p.a. between 2026–2030, data center electricity consumption projected to ~945 TWh by 2030, ~3,000 GW of renewable projects waiting in grid connection queues (1,500 GW in advanced stages), and typical grid build lead times of 5–15 years vs 1–5 years for wind/solar. It also outlines a seven-phase implementation roadmap and highlights Phase 2 (integrated planning model) and Phase 6 (digital implementation) as specific implementation risk points.
  • Context and details: The article is an explanatory long-read (thought leadership / guidance) drawing on global regulatory and technical references (NERC, FERC Order 2023, IEA, NREL, ARENA, Ofgem, EU Electricity Market Reform Regulation 2024/1747). It describes concrete program elements (shared spatial dataset/GIS, ADMS/DERMS/AMI/SCADA stacks, dynamic operating envelopes, grid-enhancing technologies, scenario-based master planning) and prescribes operational requirements and sequencing (data quality first, parallel digitalization, workforce and supply-chain planning).