Georgia Data Center News

Mar 2, 2026

How America’s Power Regions Chose Their Futures and How That Has Played Out

Aaron Larson assesses nearly 30 years of U.S. electricity market choices and evaluates organized RTO/ISO markets versus bilateral, vertically integrated regions.

Main assessment: The article reviews the historical arc from FERC Order 888 (April 24, 1996) and Order 2000 (~1999) through the formation and evolution of major operators (PJM, CAISO, ISO‑NE, NYISO, MISO, SPP, ERCOT). Key facts include PJM’s estimate of $2.8–$3.1 billion/year in customer benefits, a 2023 Brattle Group study estimating $362 million/year savings for South Carolina by joining PJM (or $187 million/year for a Southeast RTO), and the launch dates/timelines: CAISO (1998 under Assembly Bill 1890), PJM ISO (1997) and RTO (2001), MISO formation (2001) and energy market start (2005), Entergy integration (2013), SPP Integrated Marketplace (2014), ERCOT restructuring (1999), SEEM launch (November 2022), and Winter Storm Uri (February 2021).
Background and additional details: The article documents regional design differences (PJM evolutionary expansion; CAISO’s 2000–2001 crisis; ERCOT’s energy‑only market), highlights renewables integration and data center demand as drivers toward organized markets, and notes SEEM cleared 0.1% of regional annual demand in its first full year. The piece is an analytical assessment rather than a new policy announcement.

Feb 27, 2026

Policy Shock: Big Tech Told to Power Its Own AI Buildout

The White House is advancing a ‘ratepayer protection’ framework aimed at ensuring large AI data center projects do not shift grid upgrade costs onto residential customers.

Main action: The White House is pushing a ratepayer protection approach that would encourage/require large AI and hyperscale developers to demonstrate energy self-sufficiency or provide dedicated power solutions (e.g., behind-the-meter generation) when seeking large-load approvals; the article cites signals that formal guidance or rulemaking and possible state-level measures could follow in the near term.
Context and details: The article reports market movement (about one-third of new U.S. projects evaluating private/on-site power), technical choices include natural gas turbines, fuel cells, hybrid microgrids, and renewables, capacity scales of hundreds of megawatts to gigawatt levels are discussed, and a cited Nordic deal (Equinix/atNorth) reports roughly 1 gigawatt of secured power capacity and further expansion plans; potential near-term indicators include utility tariff changes, hyperscaler commitments, and federal guidance.

Feb 26, 2026

Southern Co. Lands Largest Loan in DOE History—$26.5B for Gas, Nuclear, and Grid Projects

The Department of Energy (DOE) announced the closing of a $26.54 billion loan package with Southern Company subsidiaries Georgia Power and Alabama Power on Feb. 25, 2026.

Main action: The DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF) closed a $26.54 billion federal loan guarantee (approximately $22.4 billion to Georgia Power and $4.1 billion to Alabama Power) to finance more than 16 GW of firm generation and over 1,300 miles of transmission across the Southeast. The loans carry an ~30-year term, are available for draw through Sept. 15, 2033, and will support ~5 GW new natural gas generation, ~6 GW nuclear uprates/license renewals, hydropower modernization, battery energy storage systems, and grid enhancements.
Context and supporting details: The transaction was executed under DOE’s rebranded EDF (successor to LPO) and the Section 1706 Energy Dominance Financing Program after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act changes; the federal program retains a $250 billion aggregate loan cap and the DOE reports ~$289 billion in available loan authority. Southern Company concurrently disclosed an $81 billion capital plan (2026–2030), 10 GW of fully executed large-load contracts (26 agreements) including data center customers (Google, Meta, Microsoft, Compass Datacenters) with minimum 15-year terms; the company expects the loans to reduce interest expense by >$300M per year.

Feb 25, 2026

What the Tech: What AI means for your wallet and environment

WRDW/WAGT reports on environmental impacts of AI data centers.

Main findings: The article cites a 2023 study that U.S. data centers use roughly 4 percent of all electricity generated, a figure that is expected to more than double as new facilities come online; some AI-focused data centers under construction could use as much electricity as 2 million homes. It also notes there are currently ~4,000 data centers in the U.S., with major expansions underway in Virginia, Georgia, Arizona, and Ohio, and that some new facilities are requesting as much power as small cities.
Water and usage details: A Department of Energy study found some centers use “millions of gallons every day”, equivalent to the water needs of a town of 50,000 people; a UC Riverside study found each AI chatbot session uses roughly “a half-liter of fresh water” to cool servers. The article gives an example that 3 million simple chatbot messages like “thank you” could consume around 1,500 kilowatt hours, and references President Trump’s “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” encouraging large tech companies to cover their own energy costs.

Feb 21, 2026

Local environmental advocates weigh in on data center ordinances

Local environmental advocates (Southern Sustainability Institute and Science for Georgia) have publicly weighed in on recently introduced Athens-Clarke County ordinance amendments related to data centers.

Main announcement: Laura Iyer (Founder and Chair, Southern Sustainability Institute) and Olivia Asher (member, Science for Georgia; PhD student at the University of Georgia) have appeared at public meetings and met with WUGA reporter Emma Auer to discuss a series of recently introduced ordinance amendments governing data centers; their demands focus on public transparency and use of renewable energy, and they have packed public meetings in recent weeks.
Background/details: The coverage states residents are concerned about data centers’ use of energy and water; the advocates aim to influence local legislation by pressing for renewable energy sourcing and greater transparency in project approvals and operations. No monetary values, timelines, or specific project sizes are provided in this article.

Feb 20, 2026

Opening Doors: How DataBank Is Helping the Next Generation Discover Data Center Careers

DataBank hosted a career exploration event at its Atlanta facility, opening the doors to nearly 20 young people in partnership with Opportunity Runway.

Event details: Hosted at DataBank’s Atlanta facility on a Saturday; attendees: nearly 20 young people; partners/speakers: Opportunity Runway, Method Experts, PRT Staffing; DataBank staff presenters: Anthony Hayes, Leon LaMar III, Clyde Ward; agenda: data center fundamentals, MEP, cybersecurity, physical security, operations, rack-and-stack; logistics: lunch provided by PRT Staffing.
Background and follow-up: Career pathways highlighted included IBEW apprenticeship/trade routes with $45–$55/hr paid training versus a cited typical four-year college $60,000 starting salary; engagement: many attendees connected with presenters on LinkedIn; Hayes will continue outreach at career fairs and community events with Opportunity Runway.

Feb 12, 2026

Crunching Big Data Into 3D Images Accelerates Discovery

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (NERSC) and the Advanced Light Source (ALS) announced deployment of a Superfacility real-time data streaming pipeline connecting ALS Beamline 8.3.2 to NERSC via ESnet, enabling near-instant 3D micro-CT reconstructions during experiments.

Main announcement/action: The project implements real-time streaming from ALS to NERSC (via ESnet) so micro-CT datasets (often 50 GB+) are reconstructed on NERSC using multiple high-powered GPUs with results available in less than 10 seconds; this capability is the result of a two-year collaborative project involving 30+ contributors and is now in daily production use. The pipeline was developed through NERSC’s NESAP program and integrated by ALS Beamline Controls, Photon Science Computing, and Berkeley Lab IT.
Background and details: The effort built on shared code from APS/Argonne, included updates to beamline data-acquisition software/hardware, and was first demonstrated in production with the Saad Bhamla Lab (Georgia Tech). The team plans to expand the framework to support ptychographic imaging and to combine the pipeline with AI/ML tools for automated image segmentation and analysis.

Feb 6, 2026 · RMI

New Ways to Power Data Centers and Other Large Energy Users

RMI has published an insight brief proposing Bring-Your-Own (BYO) and Clean Transition Tariffs to meet large customers’ energy needs while protecting other ratepayers.

Main action: RMI recommends baseline large load tariffs complemented by voluntary Bring-Your-Own (BYO) and Clean Transition Tariffs to accelerate clean resource deployment and allocate cost/risk to participating large loads. Key concrete examples cited: PJM’s Bring Your Own New Generation Program (proposal for generators greater than 250 MW, board letter dated Jan 16, 2026), Tri-State’s member cooperative self-supply program, Evergy Kansas Large Load Rate Plan settlement including a Clean Energy Choice Rider (settlement document referenced), NV Energy’s Clean Transition Tariff used by Google to procure an enhanced geothermal system toward its 24/7 clean energy goal, and Georgia Power’s 2025 IRP addition of a Customer-Identified Resource (CIR) option to CARES.
Background and details: BYO tariffs are presented as a voluntary pathway alongside a “baseline” large load tariff and can support multiple procurement types (Utility-Owned, Utility-Contracted (sleeved PPA), Customer-Contracted (physical PPA), Customer-Owned/behind-the-meter). The brief advises regulators to require emission impact assessment and reporting, validate inclusion of BYO-procured resources in long-term planning to avoid redundant builds, and consider pairing BYO with interruptible service tariffs and virtual power plants to capture flexibility.

Feb 5, 2026

What’s up with data centers in Minnesota?

Fresh Energy calls on Minnesota regulators and the Public Utilities Commission to adopt policies ensuring data center development benefits Minnesotans and aligns with the state’s 100% clean electricity by 2040 law.

Main announcement / action: Fresh Energy urges the Commission to implement better load forecasting, rate design (large-load tariffs), and transparency on water and behind-the-meter generation to ensure data centers pay their fair share; Minnesota currently has 13 operating data centers with 43 MW of capacity and 12 planned projects totaling 1,120 MW (as of January 2026). Key regulatory actions already in motion include Xcel Energy’s large-load tariff filed July 2025 and the Commission requiring Dakota Electric to file an additional tariff in December 2025.
Background and details: Fresh Energy cites national context such as data center investment growth from $13.8 billion to $41.2 billion per year and nearly 100 GW of proposed behind-the-meter gas plants nationwide; it recommends using IRP updates, stochastic/scenario-based forecasting, and tariff rate classes so utilities do not overbuild infrastructure or shift costs to residential customers.

Jan 30, 2026

The Benefits of Amazon Investments

Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced a major data center investment and related developments in Mississippi.

Main announcement: AWS announced a $10 billion Madison County project (Jan 2025) covering 1,700 acres across two sites, with 1,000 direct high-tech jobs averaging $80,000 annually, and 6,000–7,000 construction workers needed through 2027; AWS also announced a $3 billion investment in Warren County. The first building is coming online soon, with full construction completion targeted for 2027.
Background and additional details: Local firms have scaled rapidly (e.g., Mighty Fresh expanding from one truck to 14 trucks and adding two more within 90 days at $150,000–$200,000 per vehicle); ABB is investing $40 million to double its Senatobia facility and add 122 jobs; direct AWS suppliers must meet $5 million–$10 million insurance minimums and other requirements; primes listed include Yates Construction, Gray Construction, Haskell, Cupertino Electric, MMR Group, Faith Technologies Inc., and Edwards Electrics.

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