Illinois Data Center Intel

Recent Illinois data center news

• Sep 1, 2026

  US utility-scale battery energy storage capacity almost doubled during first 18 months of Trump’s second term

  The Solar Energy Industries Association and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence have published the Q3 2026 US Energy Storage Market Outlook, reporting record US battery storage deployments in Q2 2026.

  • The report says 6.7GW/20.2GWh of new battery energy storage systems came online between March and end-June 2026, with 17.9GWh in utility-scale projects and 56% of utility-scale capacity standalone.
  • It also says Arizona, Texas and Utah accounted for much of the quarter’s growth, while the C&I segment benefited from the expansion of data centres and onsite power needs; SEIA and Benchmark also raised their 2030 forecast to 683GWh.
  • The article references earlier announcements and policy developments, including Illinois’ 3GW by 2030 target, Virginia’s expanded 20GW-plus target, Nebraska’s framework for first BESS developments, and FERC show cause orders on large-load grid connections.
• Aug 29, 2026

  United States and Cameroon Announce $7 Billion in Investment and Trade Opportunities at Inaugural Economic and Commercial Dialogue

  The United States and Cameroon have announced approximately $7 billion in new and expanding investment and trade opportunities during the inaugural U.S.-Cameroon Bilateral Economic and Commercial Dialogue.

  • The announcement covers sectors including technology, critical minerals, infrastructure, energy, forestry, and logistics, and the two sides agreed to establish joint working groups and continue the Dialogue ahead of the next meeting in 2027, which the United States will host.
  • Specific projects mentioned include Tronox/Lion Rock‘s $500 million rutile project, ARM‘s planned $85 million cobalt-nickel-manganese project in Nkamouna, Hydromine‘s proposed $3.5 billion, 1,040-MW Grand Eweng Hydropower Project, and Cybastion‘s $75 million AI-powered data center and power plant in Douala.
• Aug 28, 2026

  DOE Retreat on Transmission Corridors Tests the Case for Building Ahead

  The article explains that the US Department of Energy has decided not to designate three proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors, while discussing how data center load growth is creating pressure for earlier transmission planning.

  • DOE declined to designate the Tribal Energy Access Corridor, Southwestern Grid Connector Corridor, and Lake Erie-Canada Corridor after Phase 3 review, citing the 2023 National Transmission Needs Study, public input, and other evidence.
  • The piece uses Texas CREZ and ERCOT as examples of proactive planning, noting that as of June 2026 ERCOT was tracking about 474.7 GW of large-load interconnection requests, including 420.8 GW tied to data centers; Gov. Greg Abbott later directed PUCT and ERCOT to review project risks and ordered a statewide audit in August.
• Aug 28, 2026

  At $125 a Month, Cable TV Nearly as Expensive as Typical Monthly Home Electric Bill, Report Finds

  Gov. Morrisey is reported as being encouraged about a proposed $45 billion Nscale-Anthropic data center deal in West Virginia.

  • The item references a $45 billion data center deal involving Nscale and Anthropic in West Virginia.
  • The text is a headline-style reference to a recent or ongoing announcement, not a full primary-source release; no further project specifics are provided in the excerpt.
• Aug 26, 2026

  Michigan Signs 17 Subgrants Under Federal Broadband Program

  The Michigan High-Speed Internet Office has announced that it signed grant contracts with 17 organizations selected for Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding, allowing projects to move into permitting and construction.

  • 17 organizations have executed agreements under Michigan’s BEAD program; the state says construction on BEAD-funded projects is expected to begin this month.
  • Michigan’s approved final proposal includes $916.6 million in BEAD funding plus $557.7 million in provider matching funds, for about $1.474 billion in total deployment costs; signed subgrantees have four years to substantially complete permitting, construction and service launch.
  • The article also notes that 123NET is among larger recipients with more than $85 million in BEAD support and $42 million in matching funds, while Strategic Management LLC has more than $276 million in BEAD support nationally.
  • This is a news report summarizing a state announcement, not the original press release text itself; it references Michigan’s final proposal approved in December 2025 and NTIA’s program changes in June 2025.
• Aug 26, 2026

  Facilities betting big on low-cost, 100-hour iron-air batteries

  Form Energy has announced a $750 million capital infusion and said the proceeds will accelerate manufacturing scale-up.

  • The company said the financing brings total capital raised to $2 billion since its 2017 launch, and will help scale its manufacturing facility in Weirton, West Virginia.
  • Form Energy is also working with Google and Xcel Energy on a project in Pine Island, Minnesota to supply 300 MW of battery capacity and 30 GWh of storage; the article notes this could be the world’s largest battery and that Form has an 80 GWh order backlog including projects tied to Crusoe and FuturEnergy Ireland.
• Aug 26, 2026

  Wavelength Services for AI Data Centers: A Buyer’s Guide

  Aureon is highlighting its long-haul transport route and positioning wavelength services as the preferred connectivity option for AI data centers.

  • Aureon says its Iowa Falls to Chicago route already provides 100Tb of live capacity, with a 400Tb scalable ceiling and an explored path toward 800Tb using its Infinite Capacity Engine technology.
  • The article also cites industry context: long-haul dark fiber demand doubled between 2024 and 2025, and Aureon says its route supports wavelength channels up to 800G, which is still described as new territory for the industry.
  • A quoted statement from George O’Neal, President and CEO of Aureon, says: “This deployment required a high level of coordination across networks, vendors, and timelines.”
• Aug 20, 2026

  Governors' Races are Being Increasingly Buffeted by The Toxic Politics of Data Centers

  Associated Press reports that several U.S. governors and candidates are tightening or proposing restrictions on data centers as public backlash grows. The article is commentary/news analysis about election-year politics and regulatory responses, not a first-time company announcement.

  • Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said his administration will no longer fast-track data center permits or tax exemptions unless developers meet electricity-payment, water-use, and local approval requirements; he called them the “strictest guardrails in the nation.”
  • The piece also cites broader state actions, including Arizona‘s three-year sales tax exemption moratorium, New York‘s one-year ban on large data centers, and Illinois‘s halt on new sales tax exemptions, alongside recent political ads and candidate positions in Texas, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
• Aug 20, 2026

  Shapiro Sets Binding GRID Requirements in Pennsylvania, Targets Data Center Power Costs

  Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has announced an executive order that makes the state’s GRID standards binding for large data center projects above 25 MW and ties permitting, tax benefits, and utility treatment to compliance.

  • The order immediately removes data center projects from the PA Permit Fast Track Program, restricts nondisclosure agreements, and directs state agencies to condition the Computer Data Center Equipment sales and use tax exemption on GRID compliance.
  • It also directs DEP to create a template Consent Order and Agreement, requires projects to secure local approvals before permits are issued, and asks the PUC to consider curtailment and cost-allocation rules for large data center loads.
  • Shapiro said the order is meant to “weed out speculative proposals” and that the standards are now legally-binding requirements; the article also notes two endorsed Pennsylvania data center projects in Salem Township and Falls Township representing $20 billion in investment.
• Aug 20, 2026

  Key Capture Energy raises US$300 million from Standard Chartered, with NY-ISO and MISO deployments in mind

  Key Capture Energy has announced a new $300 million letter of credit financing facility with Standard Chartered to support its battery storage development pipeline.

  • The financing was announced on 18 August and is the first publicly announced financing for KCE since owner SK Innovation E&S was reported to be considering strategic options, including a possible buyer search.
  • The facility will support projects in NY-ISO and MISO; KCE said its operating portfolio totals 623MW, including 580MW in ERCOT in Texas, and the company is also active in New York, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.