Illinois Data Center Intel

Recent Illinois data center news

• Oct 23, 2026

  Nano Nuclear Signs Engineering Agreement With Argentina’s IMPSA For Kronos Microreactor

  Nano Nuclear Energy has announced a three-year engineering services agreement with IMPSA’s US subsidiary to assess design and manufacture requirements for its Kronos microreactor.

  • The initial work will be an approximately six-month design review and manufacturing feasibility study, focused on the reactor pressure vessel as a principal component.
  • IMPSA will examine requirements under Section III of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code to identify fabrication constraints, inspection difficulties, and supply chain risks early enough for design changes.
  • The statement also references Nano Nuclear’s broader Kronos program, including a 15-MWe high-temperature gas-cooled reactor using helium coolant and TRISO fuel with molten-salt thermal energy storage.
  • Nano recently signed an agreement with Tillman Global Holdings to target deployment of up to 2 GW of reactor power by the mid-2030s for US AI data centres, and it has submitted a construction permit application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a Kronos MMR at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
• Oct 23, 2026

  MISO selects consortium of Ameren, GridLiance, Dairyland to deliver foundational energy grid project in Iowa

  MISO has announced that it selected a consortium led by Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois, GridLiance Heartland, and Dairyland Power Cooperative to develop, build, operate, and maintain the EASL transmission project in Iowa.

  • The East Adair – Minnesota/Iowa State Line – Arbor Hill – York Avenue (EASL) project includes a 765-kV backbone, one new 345/765-kV substation, and two new 345-kV transmission lines; it has an estimated cost of approximately $1.23 billion and ownership stakes of 42.5% ATXI, 42.5% GridLiance, and 15% Dairyland.
  • The project is part of MISO’s Long Range Transmission Planning Tranche 2.1 Portfolio (approved in December 2024); expected in-service dates are June 1, 2032 for the 345-kV scope and June 1, 2034 for the 765-kV scope, subject to regulatory review and stakeholder engagement.
• Oct 15, 2026

  Midterms Could Change the Politics of AI

  Broadband Breakfast reported on a panel discussion about how the Nov. 3 midterm elections could shape future U.S. AI policy and broadband politics.

  • Panelists said major federal AI legislation is unlikely before the election, but post-election narratives could influence both parties’ approach to preemption, data centers, and AI regulation.
  • The discussion cited the $42.45 billion BEAD program, Texas’s freeze on new data center grid connections, the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, and bipartisan bills including the AI LEAD Act and FRONTIER Act.
  • The article is an analysis/commentary based on a BroadbandLive session, not a first-time corporate announcement; it also references prior actions such as the July 2025 Senate vote 99-1 and Trump’s December executive order.
• Oct 13, 2026

  U.S. Nuclear Policy Enters a New Era: NCCETC Dataset Tracks the Nationwide Sprint Toward New Nuclear Deployment

  The NC Clean Energy Technology Center has announced the latest edition of its Nuclear Energy Policy Dataset, a biannual resource tracking commercial nuclear energy policy and market activity across the United States.

  • The October 2026 update covers all 50 states, U.S. territories, and federal actions, and says 45 states and Puerto Rico took new action between April and September 2026; 48 states and Puerto Rico have acted since the start of the year.
  • Noteworthy developments cited include New Jersey’s 1.1 GW capacity certificate program, Illinois’ statewide inquiry, Tennessee’s first fusion plant license to Type One Energy at Bull Run in Clinton, and the TVA Clinch River SMR construction permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
• Oct 12, 2026

  Voices: Strength in numbers. Tribal Nations are building energy sovereignty together.

  MTERA executive director Daniel Wiggins Jr. argues that Tribal Nations are deepening energy collaboration after federal clean-energy funding was cut, and he calls for greater public awareness and inclusion of Tribes in energy proceedings.

  • MTERA says it was founded in 2014 and now brings together 33 Tribes across Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to help plan, finance, and operate energy projects.
  • The article says MTERA aligned more than $62 million in federal funding in 2024 for residential solar in EPA Region 5, but the Solar for All program was terminated in August 2025, cutting more than $500 million for Tribal clean energy nationwide.
  • This is an opinion column in Planet Detroit’s Voices series, not a new project announcement; it also introduces Tribal Energy Voices as a platform for Tribes to tell their own energy stories.
• Oct 7, 2026

  Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows Agrivoltaics Project wins North American Solar Farm of the Year award

  The Piedmont Environmental Council has announced that its Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows is a co-recipient of the Solar Farm of the Year award. - The award is part of the annual North American Agrivoltaics Awards and will be presented on October 27 at Solar Farm House in Chicago.

  • The project is described as Virginia’s first crop-farming agrivoltaics project; it uses 42 solar panels on a quarter-acre portion of an 8-acre farm, generating about 130% of the farm’s electricity needs with a backup battery system for full energy independence.
  • PEC says the project launched in October 2025 and has hosted tours and workshops; the article also says Virginia’s grid may need to double or triple in the next 15 years due to data center-driven demand.
• Oct 7, 2026

  Climate Change Solutions - October 6, 2026

  EESI has published a climate and energy newsletter summarizing recent congressional action, upcoming briefings, and related resources.

  • Senators Shelley Moore Capito, Sheldon Whitehouse, Mike Lee, and Martin Heinrich introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (S.5653), a permitting package focused on transmission, grid capacity, and data center energy costs.
  • The newsletter also notes the Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act becoming law, the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act being signed, the Senate advancing the Agricultural Act of 2026, and an upcoming Oct. 7, 1:00-2:30 p.m. EDT online briefing on interregional transmission co-hosted with WRI.
• Oct 7, 2026

  Top facilities management conferences to attend in 2027

  Facilities Dive has published a 2027 conference list for facilities management, including events relevant to data centers, AI, energy resilience, sustainability and workforce development.

  • The list covers 22 events across the U.S., with dates and locations for major conferences such as ASHRAE Winter Conference (Jan. 23-27, Chicago), DCD Connect New York (May 17-18, New York City), Data Center World (May 24-27, Nashville), Realcomm IBcon (June 8-10, Tampa), and IFMA World Workplace 2027 (Oct. 13-15, Kansas City).
  • The article highlights recurring themes including AI in building systems, energy resilience and efficiency, cooling technology, cybersecurity risk, talent development, and sustainable facilities; it also notes that Data Center World, Greenbuild, ISSA Show North America and Data Center World Power are hosted by Informa.
• Oct 7, 2026

  Google enters massive 3.6-GW power deal with Constellation Energy

  Google has announced a long-term power procurement deal with Constellation Energy to secure 3,590 megawatts of electricity in the US’ largest power grid, PJM Interconnection.

  • The agreement includes a 20-year power purchase agreement for 890 MW from multiple Constellation-owned nuclear plants, plus an additional 2,700 MW long-term supply agreement in PJM not tied to a specific generation source.
  • The deal is expected to support more than $4.3 billion of new investment and upgrades to 11 nuclear units in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey; first upgraded plant deliveries are expected in 2028. The companies said the arrangement responds to PJM’s proposed “bring your own power” approach for data center customers.
• Oct 6, 2026 · Google

  Why we're backing America's existing nuclear plants

  Google has announced a new long-term energy collaboration with Constellation Energy to add 890 MW of nuclear capacity to the PJM grid and deploy Gemini Enterprise across Constellation operations.

  • The agreement covers physical and digital upgrades at six operating nuclear plants across Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey; the uprates are expected to be completed before the end of 2032 and add 890 MW of firm clean power.
  • Google says the deal is tied to its data center growth, supports roughly 4,400 existing jobs and 7,200 new construction jobs, and brings Google’s total enabled nuclear capacity to over 1.5 GW in the U.S.; it also references related nuclear efforts in Georgia, Iowa, and Tennessee.