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California Data Center Intel
Latest data center news, projects, power and policy across California — updated daily.
Recent California data center news
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Climate Change Solutions - July 29, 2025
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) newsletter highlights recent climate change solutions, legislative updates, and upcoming events.
- Innovative technologies such as AI-driven disaster resilience tools by U.S. National Laboratories and upgraded air filters to reduce wildfire smoke injuries are featured.
- Legislative progress includes the Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act passed by the House, the La Paz County Solar Energy and Job Creation Act advancing with job creation and solar capacity details, and the Fire Ready Nation Act advancing in the Senate to enhance wildfire forecasting.
- Upcoming briefings focus on Ohio River restoration and the intersection of AI and climate policy.
- The newsletter also provides links to recordings of the 28th annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and related policy forums.
- EESI President Daniel Bresette is quoted on energy and AI topics; contact details and social media links for EESI are provided.
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What is a data center?
McKinsey has announced a detailed analysis and outlook on the rapid growth and investment needs of data centers driven by AI workloads.
- $6.7 trillion global investment in data centers is projected by 2030, with 70% driven by AI workloads; AI-ready data centers require new infrastructure including power, cooling, and electrical systems.
- Regional challenges include power supply constraints in the US and Europe, labor shortages, and sustainability demands; opportunities exist for investors, real estate firms, and telecom operators to support data center expansion and clean energy integration.
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How AI is impacting the adoption cycles of hydrogen and fuel cells
The article announces the growing role of hydrogen fuel cells as a clean, reliable, and scalable power solution for AI infrastructure.
- Hydrogen fuel cells provide zero-emission, grid-independent power and can flexibly support data centers facing grid capacity constraints, with deployments by companies like Microsoft, Equinix, and Google.
- Renewable hydrogen production costs have dropped over 60% since 2010, supported by policies such as the US Inflation Reduction Act and hydrogen roadmaps in Europe and Asia, enabling broader adoption in AI data centers and hybrid energy models.
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Oracle and Bloom Energy Collaborate to Deliver Power to Data Centers at the Speed of AI
Bloom Energy announced a collaboration with Oracle to deploy fuel cell technology at select Oracle Cloud Infrastructure data centers in the U.S., delivering onsite power within 90 days to support AI workloads.
- Bloom Energy’s fuel cells will provide clean, reliable, and cost-efficient power to Oracle’s AI data centers, supporting rapid deployment and scalability.
- The technology contributes to Oracle’s sustainable energy use by producing power with virtually no air pollution and no water use, aligning with Oracle’s growth strategy for AI infrastructure.
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United States $546 Billion Alternative Investment Manager Ares Management Corporation to Launch 2nd Sports, Media & Entertainment Finance Fund, Launched Inaugural Ares Sports, Media & Entertainment Finance Fund in 2020 & Raised $3.7 Billion ($2.2 Billion in Equity) Investing in Senior Debt, Junior Debt, Preferred Equity & Minority Equity, Investments Include in Atlético de Madrid, San Diego Padres, McLaren Racing & Inter Miami CF
Ares Management Corporation has announced the launch of several major investment funds, including a 2nd Sports, Media & Entertainment Finance Fund, a $2.4 billion Japan data center development fund, and the growth of its Ares Private Markets Fund to $3 billion AUM.
- Ares launched a $2.4 billion Japan data center fund (Ares Japan DC Partners I LP) in June 2025, with $1.3 billion invested by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and participation from Singapore-based GLP. The fund will develop three data center campuses in Greater Tokyo, delivering nearly 240MW of IT load, with a focus on sustainability standards and AI/cloud computing demand.
- Ares Private Markets Fund reached $3 billion AUM in May 2025 after three years, investing in private equity fund stakes mainly in North America and Europe, distributed via Ares Wealth Management Solutions with 150 professionals worldwide. The inaugural Ares Sports, Media & Entertainment Finance Fund (2020) raised $3.7 billion ($2.2 billion equity) and invested in entities such as Atlético de Madrid, San Diego Padres, McLaren Racing, and Inter Miami CF.
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Is your Data Center ready for the ban on SF6 MV switchgear in the EU?
The European Union has announced a ban on new SF6-based medium-voltage (MV) switchgear up to 24kV, effective January 1, 2026, as part of the F-gas Regulation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power infrastructure.
- Data center electricity demand in Europe is projected to rise from 100 TWh in 2022 to 150 TWh by 2026, driven by digitalization and AI, necessitating new power generation and infrastructure.
- SF6-free MV switchgear, such as Schneider Electric’s AirSeT range, is now available and deployed globally (over 40,000 units), offering lower lifecycle costs (20-30% savings) and eliminating high end-of-life recycling costs (10-20% of initial equipment cost), supporting compliance and sustainability goals.
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Climate Change Solutions - July 15, 2025
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) recaps recent U.S. climate and energy policy developments, including new legislation, issue briefs, and upcoming events.
- Reconciliation package (P.L. 119-21) signed into law on July 4, 2025, ending or curtailing tax incentives for energy efficiency, renewables, and electric vehicles.
- Congressional committees advanced bills on algal bloom mitigation, precision agriculture, coastal data, and wildfire resilience; EESI published briefs on critical minerals, data center water use, and recapped 60 climate-related hearings from May-June 2025.
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Ampt string optimizers power data center solar + storage project
Ampt has announced the deployment of its string optimizers for a 65-MW solar project in California’s CAISO region, supporting AI data center operations and critical facilities.
- Hybrid solar + storage system: 65-MW PV plant with 25-MW/100-MWh (4-hour) DC-coupled battery storage, leveraging machine learning for grid optimization.
- Economic and climate impact: Projected to generate tens of millions of dollars for the local economy and support California’s 100% carbon-free energy goal by 2045.
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Innovation Crossroads welcomes six entrepreneurs for Cohort 2025
The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) announced the 2025 Innovation Crossroads cohort, comprising six entrepreneurs focused on energy and emerging technologies.
- The two-year fellowship program provides startup founders with access to ORNL’s scientific resources, mentorship, and a substantial grant, supported by DOE offices and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The 2025 cohort includes ventures addressing wildfire prevention, advanced materials coatings, scalable carbon fiber production, aluminum-air battery technology, algae-based biocomposites, and efficient data center cooling.
- Cohort members will also complete the Spark Cleantech Accelerator at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The program aims to accelerate commercialization of innovative energy technologies and strengthen U.S. competitiveness.
This initiative advances energy innovation by integrating national lab resources with entrepreneurial expertise to foster sustainable technology development and regional economic growth.
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Bloom Energy to Announce Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results on July 31, 2025
Bloom Energy Corporation announced it will release its second quarter 2025 financial results on July 31, 2025 after market close and will host a management conference call on the same day.
Main announcement and event details:
- Release date: July 31, 2025 (after market close)
- Conference call / Webcast:2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET, Duration: 60 minutes
- Live Dial-in (U.S.): 1.888.596.4144 (toll-free) | 1.646.968.2525
- Conference ID:5744085
- Live webcast:https://investor.bloomenergy.com/
- Telephonic replay (one week): Dial in 1 800 770 2030 (toll-free) | 1 (609) 800-9909 — Passcode: 5744085
- Webcast replay (one year): Replay hosted in the Investors section at https://investor.bloomenergy.com/
Background and company details:
- Company: Bloom Energy Corporation, headquartered in Silicon Valley
- Technology / Customers: Fuel cell systems for onsite electricity generation serving Fortune 500 companies, including data centers, semiconductor manufacturing, large utilities, and other commercial & industrial sectors
- Operational footprint:1.5 GW of low-carbon power deployed across more than 1,200 installations globally