California Data Center Intel

Recent California data center news

• Mar 12, 2026

  Improving U.S. Industrial Competitiveness and Productivity

  The U.S. Department of Energy announced a $155 million investment that includes three projects led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory among 16 selected projects.

  • Main announcement: The DOE selected 16 projects and committed $155 million to strengthen U.S. industrial innovation; three projects are led by Berkeley Lab focusing on load flexibility (REFLEX), data center cooling (Data Center Cooling Collaborative), and the FOOD Center for food & beverage process technologies.
  • Details and scope: The projects will deliver real-world demonstrations (data centers, food distribution, manufacturing, water treatment), create a data center cooling testbed network, develop testing protocols and digital twin software, and establish an R&D and demonstration platform for scalable food & beverage technologies.
• 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 12, 2026

  PJM Moves to Redefine Behind-the-Meter Power for AI Data Centers

  PJM Interconnection filed a tariff rewrite with FERC in February 2026 to sharply limit legacy behind-the-meter netting for new large loads above 50 MW.

  • Main action: PJM proposes a 50 MW threshold so that new behind-the-meter loads >50 MW would no longer qualify for legacy netting, includes a three-year transition period, and would grandfather existing arrangements for the life of their contracts; filing follows a December 18, 2025 FERC order directing PJM to create clear co-location rules.
  • Key details and implementation: PJM proposed three new transmission service constructs (Interim Network Integration Transmission Service, Firm Contract Demand Transmission Service, Non-Firm Contract Demand Transmission Service); rates/terms to be filed later; PJM also outlined a broader six-part large-load integration framework including expedited interconnection/BYOG pathways, improved load forecasting, and a potential backstop procurement process.
• Mar 12, 2026

  Drivers wonder if they should go electric as the war spikes gas prices

  The article reports that rising gasoline prices tied to the Iran war are increasing U.S. consumer interest in electric vehicles (EVs).

  • Main finding: Rising gasoline prices (national average $3.57/gal, up from $2.94/gal a month earlier) and concerns about price volatility are driving greater consumer consideration of hybrids and EVs; Edmunds found electrified-vehicle research rose to 22.4% of vehicle research activity in the week starting March 2 (from 20.7% the prior week).
  • Background and details:Residential electricity prices are generally regulated and less volatile (experts: Erich Muehlegger, Pierpaolo Cazzola); electricity costs can still rise (contributors include surging demand from new data centers and broader inflationary pressures noted by Holt Edwards). The article also cites average new EV price $55,300 vs average new vehicle $49,353 (Kelley Blue Book) and discusses supply-chain concerns tied to China.
• Mar 11, 2026

  TPG Rise Climate Completes $4.75B Sale of Intersect to Google, Launches IPX Power

  TPG Rise Climate has completed the sale of its stake in Intersect to Google for $4.75 billion (plus assumption of debt) and spun off Intersect’s grid‑tied power business into a new company, IPX Power, which TPG Rise Climate majority-backs.

  • Main announcement: TPG Rise Climate completed the sale of Intersect’s digital power business to Google for $4.75 billion (plus assumption of debt); concurrently Intersect’s grid‑tied clean energy assets were spun out into IPX Power, with TPG Rise Climate as majority backer. The transaction and spinout together represent a total enterprise value of $12 billion. The deal had been first announced in December (prior strategic partnership launched December 2024).
  • Background and details: The IPX platform will focus on co‑located solar and battery storage, citing an existing portfolio of 4.4 GW of solar PV and 8.8 GWh of battery storage in construction or operation and a multi‑gigawatt development pipeline; other investors in the spinout include Climate Adaptive Infrastructure and Greenbelt Capital Partners. The article also references Google’s separate $40 billion commitment to Texas through 2027 for AI infrastructure.
• Mar 11, 2026

  Datalec targets rapid infrastructure deployment with new modular data centers

  Datalec Precision Installations has launched a next-generation Data Centre Modularization Solution to enable faster, more flexible deployment of data centre capacity for colocation providers, hyperscale and AI infrastructure teams.

  • Main announcement: Datalec launched a next-generation Data Centre Modularization Solution that shortens typical deployment timelines (company states a full build can fall from about 16 months to 10 months, and the design phase from 6 months to 2 months). Modules are engineered and manufactured through Datatec’s integrated production process, with a larger share of work done offsite to reduce onsite construction time and disruption.
  • Background and details: The solution targets standard server to AI/high-density compute use cases and offers bolt-on services including a digital wrapper (digital twinning, lifecycle and global support). Datalec manufactures specialized elements (cabinets, ceilings), provides design development and consulting, and competes with vendors such as Schneider Electric, Vertiv, and Flex.
• Mar 11, 2026

  Study finds significant savings from direct current power for AI workloads

  Enteligent published a study promoting 800V DC for AI data centers and said it is conducting NDA-level tests and pilots of an 800V-to-50V converter with a formal product announcement planned within the next few weeks.

  • Study findings and claimed savings:50%–80% reduction in copper usage, 8%–12% reduction in annual energy-related OpEx, and $4 million–$8 million CapEx savings per 10 MW build for AI-first facilities; Enteligent positions 800VDC as enabling fewer conductors, lower current/heat, and simpler distribution.
  • Product and deployment details / timeline: CEO Sean Burke says Enteligent’s unreleased converter will partition 800V DC to 50V for servers; the company is at NDA testing and pilot programs now and plans a formal announcement within the next few weeks; Burke recommends greenfield all-DC builds and selective all-DC retrofits for high-power GPU deployments. Competitors noted include Vertiv, Rutherford, Siemens, and Eaton.
• Mar 11, 2026

  Arista Announces XPO High Density Liquid Cooled Pluggable Optics

  Arista Networks has announced the formation of a multi-source agreement (MSA) for XPO, a 12.8 Tbps liquid-cooled pluggable optics module designed for AI networking.

  • Main announcement: Arista announced the XPO MSA providing 12.8 Tbps per pluggable module, 204.8 Tbps per OCP rack unit front-panel density, an integrated cold plate capable of cooling up to 400W per module, and support for standards including DR, FR, LR, SR, ZR/ZR+, coherent-lite, slow&wide, copper, and RF-Microwave; the MSA will debut at OFC 2026 with live demos at Arista booth 1571 and information on how to join available at https://www.xpomsa.com/.
  • Background and logistics: The announcement includes endorsements from Microsoft and Dell’Oro Group; Arista published supporting materials (whitepaper, executive blog, video) and will host a webinar titled “The Next Generation of Pluggable Optics for AI Networking” on April 2; additional resources: whitepaper, video, blog and event pages cited in the release.
• Mar 11, 2026

  Climate Change Solutions - March 10, 2026

  EESI will host a briefing on energy efficiency with the Alliance to Save Energy on March 12 to highlight cost-effective measures for households and small businesses.

  • Main announcement: EESI and the Alliance to Save Energy will hold a briefing Strategies to Lower Utility Bills Now for Households and Small Businesses on Thursday, March 12, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., in the Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room (Room 2168) and online (RSVP link available). The event focuses on energy efficiency solutions for households and small businesses and invites expert panelists to discuss readily-available measures.
  • Background and other details: EESI published a Climate Jobs fact sheet citing >4 million climate jobs in 2024 and a 2.8% growth rate in clean energy jobs; it also promoted the 29th annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO on June 24 (Rayburn Foyer and Gold Room, 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., online option). The newsletter summarizes recent congressional activity on bills including S.2245 (Digital Coast Act extension), H.R.755 (Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025), H.R.390 (ACERO Act), and H.R.2600 (ASCEND Act), and notes hearings that focused on the electric grid and data centers.
• Mar 11, 2026

  Scintil Releases DWDM Laser Source Evaluation Kit for Scale-Up AI Networks

  Scintil Photonics has launched the LEAF Light™ Evaluation Kit (EVK) to enable qualified customers to validate its single-chip DWDM laser source for AI scale-up networks.

  • Product launch and availability: The LEAF Light EVK is announced for availability in Q2 2026 with early access for select qualified customers; the EVK hosts two LOSAs (8 fibers total), supports 8- and 16-wavelength LOSAs, provides wavelength precision control (100 GHz / 200 GHz grids), and is intended to validate ELSFP module integration and latency/stability under real conditions. The company will showcase live DWDM demos at OFC 2026 (March 17–19, Los Angeles) including a 16-wavelength, 100 GHz configuration. The announcement references Scintil’s $58 million Series B with participation from NVIDIA.
  • Background and technical details: The EVK exposes on-chip features including WaveGuard™ (frequency monitoring and trimming), per-wavelength power monitoring, and operational telemetry; the underlying SHIP™ technology is validated on Tower Semiconductor 200mm production lines and positioned for foundry-aligned, high-volume deployment. Contact for media/early access: isaac@omniscalemedia.com, phone +1 360-576-5475, and EVK requests via https://www.scintil-photonics.com/evkleaflight.