California Data Center Intel

Recent California data center news

• Mar 25, 2026

  Q&A: Can nuclear fusion power AI's growing electricity needs?

  Egwu Favour Emaojo highlights renewed interest in nuclear fusion as a potential power source for AI-driven data centres.

  • Main announcement/action: The article reports growing progress and investment in fusion: financing rose from US$1.7 billion in 2020 to US$15 billion by September 2025, Helion Energy began construction of a prototype commercial plant in July 2025 and in February 2026 announced its reactor reached 150 million °C, keeping it on track to supply Microsoft’s data centers by 2028. The piece also cites data-centre electricity use (≈176 TWh in the U.S. in 2023; global demand projected to ~945 TWh by 2030).
  • Background and supporting details: The author references past technical milestones (Dec 2022 net energy gain and an April 2025 near‑quadrupling of output), IAEA praise calling fusion a “dream of limitless, clean energy”, China’s EAST reactor progress, and cautions that fusion is not yet commercially viable and most experts say it is “Not in the near term” for large‑scale deployment.
• Mar 24, 2026

  Amarillo data center project gets approval from environmental agency, despite community pushback

  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approved Fermi America’s air permitting for Project Matador, advancing the nearly 6,000-acre data center campus into its final stages.

  • Main announcement: TCEQ gave final approval for Fermi America’s air permit for Project Matador, a nearly 6,000-acre campus described by Fermi as an 11 GW private grid campus and the recipient of what the company calls the second-largest Clean Air Permit in the country; the permit seeks authorization for 23.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
  • Background and details: The decision came despite more than 300 public comments and sustained community opposition in Amarillo; Fermi’s statement was issued by Cathy Landtroop (chief communications officer), and opposition comments were voiced by residents like Kendra Seawright and by Public Citizen (Kathryn Guerra), who criticized TCEQ’s evaluation process.
• Mar 24, 2026

  Switch Completes Agreement to Sponsor Research with Stanford’s Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (CIFE) to Innovate and Accelerate Digital Infrastructure Development

  Switch® has announced a sponsored research agreement with Stanford University’s Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (CIFE) on March 25, 2026.

  • Main announcement: Switch® will sponsor research at Stanford CIFE to advance large-scale digital infrastructure, industrialized construction, and innovative energy systems for AI data centers; the agreement will enable academic research and hands-on exposure to Switch’s innovation initiatives (announced 25 March 2026).
  • Background and details: The research will focus on improved construction turnover, prefabrication/modularization (DFM) for Switch’s AI Factories™ capital programs, and testing CIFE’s sustainability-focused facility life-cycle performance framework to define novel sustainability metrics and explore token-to-grid / grid interoperability; no monetary value or implementation timeline was specified in the announcement.
• Mar 24, 2026

  Climate Change Solutions - March 24, 2026

  EESI published its “Climate Change Solutions” newsletter summarizing recent analysis, events, and legislative activity related to energy grid upgrades, data center impacts, and climate information integrity.

  • Main announcement: EESI highlights solutions including reconductoring to expand U.S. grid capacity, coverage of data center noise and water use issues, and a podcast on climate data integrity; the newsletter also notes EESI hosted a Rapid Readout on the repeal of the EPA’s 2009 Endangerment Finding (readout available via EESI).
  • Additional details and timeline: Congressional actions noted include passage/introduction of bills: H.R.2709 (Save Our Sequoias Act) passed House, H.R.528 (Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025) passed House, reintroduction of S.4096 / H.R.7921 (Rural Decentralized Water Systems Reauthorization Act), and introduction of H.R.7977 (Energy Bills Relief Act). Upcoming EESI events: Tracking Down Data on April 23, Water Infrastructure briefing on May 7, and EXPO 2026 on June 24.
• Mar 24, 2026

  The Northwest Hasn’t Learned the Lessons of WPPSS (“Whoops”)

  Laura Feinstein (Sightline Institute) argues that leaders should avoid building new gas-fired power plants in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and instead prioritize data center flexibility, demand response, energy efficiency, and transmission expansion to address near-term resource adequacy concerns.

  • Main action and evidence: The piece urges policymakers and regulators to require utilities and large electricity users to exhaust large-load flexibility and demand-side measures before approving fossil fuel infrastructure; cites a September 2025 E3 Phase 1 analysis that reported an 8.7 GW shortfall by 2030 (commonly rounded to 9 GW), which shrinks to roughly 5.6 GW when already planned resources (e.g., Carriger solar, PacifiCorp conversions) are counted. The article highlights alternatives with concrete figures: a Duke University estimate that 3.8 GW could be gained if data centers reduced power about one week per year, and a Sylvan Energy Analytics review showing data-center curtailment can eliminate the gap in multiple scenarios.
  • Background and concrete details: The article documents utilities’ recent actions and legislative context: PSE has contracted for six new gas turbines (filing redacted), Grant PUD approved a (temporary) 12 MW natural gas plant, PSE’s voluntary demand response currently reduces <2% of peak demand and Washington law requires ramping to 10% savings starting 2027; it notes the U.S. Department of Energy used the E3 report to justify keeping a coal plant online past Dec 31, 2025. The author characterizes the piece as an opinion/analysis urging precaution and policy alternatives rather than announcing a new transaction or partnership.
• Mar 24, 2026

  Nebraska advances energy storage and data centre-focused bill

  Nebraska Legislature advanced LB1010, introduced by Republican state senator Tom Brandt, to clarify eminent domain, regulation, and taxation for battery energy storage systems (BESS) and to require data centres to disclose electricity usage.

  • Main action: LB1010 (“Adopt the Large Load Customer Regulation Act”) was introduced on 13 January by Sen. Tom Brandt and was further advanced on 12 March; the bill explicitly addresses eminent domain of electrical energy storage property, regulation and taxation of energy storage resources, and includes amendments related to cryptocurrency mining operations and data centres.
  • Background & next steps: The bill is currently in Enrollment and Review with three primary legislative steps remaining before being sent to the governor; related local actions include a 2025 Lancaster County zoning update proposal from Eolian to permit large-scale BESS via planning commission use permits (public hearings). Cleanview reports 5 utility-scale battery storage projects totalling 6MW in Nebraska as of March 2026.
• Mar 24, 2026

  United States Server &amp; Storage Tech Company $13 Billion Super Micro Computer Co-Founder (Yih-Shyan Liaw, Wally), 1 Employee (Ruei-Tsang Chang, Steven) &amp; 1 Contractor (Ting-Wei Sun) Charged by United States Prosecutors for Illegally Selling $2.5 Billion Nvidia-Powered Servers to China Which Violates Export Control Reform Act, Current Market Value at $13 Billion, Share Price -30.3% YTD, -48.3% Last 12 Months &amp; +464.9% Last 5 Years

  The United States Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment charging Super Micro Computer co-founder Yih-Shyan “Wally” Liaw, employee Ruei-Tsang “Steven” Chang, and contractor Ting-Wei “Willy” Sun with illegally diverting servers to China.

  • Main announcement: The DOJ (19/3/26) announced an indictment alleging the defendants conspired to divert $2.5 billion of Nvidia-powered high-performance servers assembled in the United States to China, in violation of the Export Control Reform Act; Liaw and Sun were arrested and will be presented in the Northern District of California, while Chang is reported as a fugitive.
  • Background/details: The article states Super Micro Computer has a current market value of $13 billion and reports share price moves of -30.3% YTD, -48.3% last 12 months, and +464.9% last 5 years; the DOJ quote included verbatim language about integration of “sophisticated U.S. artificial intelligence technology.”
• Mar 24, 2026

  PG&amp;E reverses decision environmentalists say threatened wildlife in Coyote Valley

  Pacific Gas and Electric Co. agreed to allow LS Power to construct new electrical facilities adjacent to PG&E’s Metcalf Substation, reversing an earlier position and avoiding building on a 14-acre orchard in Coyote Valley; the California Public Utilities Commission gave final approval to the project.

  • Main action:PG&E agreed to let LS Power build the southern endpoint next to the Metcalf Substation (a 6-acre maintenance yard will be sold to LS Power) so the project will not bulldoze a 14-acre apple and peach orchard in Coyote Valley; LS Power will purchase the maintenance yard from PG&E and acquire replacement land for PG&E’s maintenance yard use. The CPUC issued final approval and construction is expected to start next month with completion in 2028.
  • Background and details: The 13-mile transmission project (approved earlier) will bring an additional 1,000 megawatts to San Jose; LS Power says it is investing $1 billion in the project. LS Power previously paid $56 million in 2023 to buy 10 acres near downtown San Jose, and public agencies and groups have spent more than $120 million preserving Coyote Valley. Wires at Metcalf will be buried underground; the orchard site would have required an extra mile of trenching and risked disrupting areas around Coyote Creek.
• Mar 23, 2026

  Environment, climate bills passed and failed in legislative session

  The Washington Legislature passed several climate and energy bills, notably creating a state electrical transmission authority and closing a loophole so independent generators serving data centers must meet clean-energy targets.

  • Main action: The Legislature passed Senate Bill 6355 to create a nine-person state electrical transmission authority (one board seat reserved for a tribal citizen from ceded lands) to construct and manage grid infrastructure, prioritize financing partnerships with utilities and developers, and improve grid reliability; transmission projects may still take a decade or longer due to permitting and bureaucracy.
  • Other enacted and contextual details: Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 5982 to require port utility districts and independent generators feeding data centers to comply with the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) (clean electricity by 2045); House Bill 2416 directs the Department of Ecology to allocate no-cost carbon allowances to Spokane’s Waste to Energy facility from 2027–2030 (the facility otherwise faced $4 million–$8 million in carbon allowance costs), and bills such as House Bill 2515 (sweeping data center regulations), House Bill 1607 (10-cent bottle/can deposit), and House Bill 1420 (textile producer responsibility) failed to advance this session.
• Mar 23, 2026

  Environment and climate bills that passed in legislative session

  The Washington state legislature passed multiple climate and energy bills, including creating a state transmission authority (Senate Bill 6355) and closing a Clean Energy Transformation Act loophole for data center power procurement (Senate Bill 5982).

  • Major legislative actions:Senate Bill 6355 establishes a Washington state electrical transmission authority with a nine-person board (including one tribal representative) and authority to finance and build transmission independent of the Bonneville Power Administration; permitting and construction timelines for transmission lines are expected to take a decade or longer. Senate Bill 5982 requires port utility districts and other independent electricity generators that feed data centers to comply with the state’s Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA), aligning such power supplies with the state’s goal of zero-GHG electricity by 2045.

  • Other passed and pending items:House Bill 2215 lowers the Climate Commitment Act fuel-supplier threshold from 25,000 metric tons to 500 metric tons; Senate Bill 6246 phases down no-cost allowances for emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries through 2035 with increased reporting; House Bill 2416 directs Ecology to allocate no-cost allowances to the Spokane Waste to Energy facility from 2027 to 2030 (the facility otherwise faced $4 million to $8 million in carbon allowance costs). Meanwhile, a comprehensive data center regulation bill (HB 2515) and bills on bottle/can deposits (HB 1607) and textile producer responsibility (HB 1420) failed to pass and will be revisited next session.