Indiana Data Center News

Oct 28, 2025

Data Centers Are Turning to Gas Generators for Prime Power to Eliminate Long Lead Times for Grid Connections

Data center developers and equipment suppliers are increasingly using natural gas generator sets and packaged generator solutions as near-term prime power to meet rapid AI-driven compute demand.

Main announcement/action: Data center developers (notably Joule Capital Partners with Caterpillar and CAT dealer Wheeler Machinery) are deploying natural gas gensets as prime power at large campuses (Millard County, Utah up to 4 GW planned) with fleets of Caterpillar G3520K (2.5 MW each) and >1 GWh battery storage; the Wonder Valley, Alberta project will use onsite natural gas to power an 8-GW data center with the first 1.5 GW scheduled for completion by 2027. Lead times for utility power can be three to seven years, prompting BYOP (bring your own power) and rapid delivery advantages for gas packages.
Background and supporting details:Global Market Insights (GMI) valued the global gas generator market at $6.9 billion in 2024, projecting 8.8% CAGR to $16 billion by 2034, with >330 kVA and >750 kVA segments growing fastest; Fidelity Manufacturing expanded staffing from 40 to >500 and opened a second 86,000 sq ft factory (additional 25,000 sq ft production and warehouse planned) to meet data-center-driven demand. Typical large gas engines available up to ~2.5 MW; custom packaged features, ASCE/SEI and local codes, and OSHA/IBC-compliant access (aluminum framing, anti-slip surfaces) are emphasized. Lead times for larger packaged deliveries can be up to one year or more.

Oct 27, 2025

GE Vernova Turbine Will Power New Indiana Gas-Fired Plant

Maple Creek Energy LLC has secured an agreement to purchase a GE Vernova 7HA.03 gas turbine (single-shaft) and associated services for phase one of the two-phase Maple Creek natural gas-fired power project in Sullivan County, Indiana (agreement announced October 27).

Main announcement: Maple Creek (owned by ArcLight Capital Partners) will procure a GE Vernova 7HA.03 turbine for the first phase of a two-phase, >1.2 GW combined-cycle facility; the agreement includes existing permits, land control, and transmission interconnection, and equipment procurement is being funded by ArcLight Capital Partners. The project is being developed by Advanced Power with BDC Power Holdings (a Bechtel company) and expects commercial operation as soon as 2029. Bechtel Infrastructure & Power Corp. will serve as the EPC.
Background and implementation details: The plant will use lower-carbon natural gas and recovered steam in a combined-cycle configuration to supply the MISO grid; securing the GE Vernova equipment addresses long-lead equipment procurement risk. Additional context: Advanced Power has a broader portfolio of >12 GW thermal and renewable projects and >9 GWh of storage. Event note: Experience POWER (Denver, Oct. 29-31) — GE Vernova is a sponsor and Clive Nickolay will discuss the company’s technology on Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center hotel.

Oct 24, 2025

AI’s Growing Appetite: What the Grid Needs to Keep Up

Bryce Yonker / Grid Forward highlights the need for grid upgrades and market reforms to meet rapidly rising electricity demand from AI data centers.

Main announcement/action:Grid Forward (Bryce Yonker) calls for major grid upgrades, market reforms, and expanded cybersecurity programs to support AI data centers that now commonly require 100–200 MW, with some designs targeting 500 MW to several GW; he cites projected U.S. data-center electricity growth of 3.7%–15% annually to 2030 and recommends investments in Advanced transmission conductors, Grid-enhancing technologies (dynamic line rating), modern switchgear, AI-driven grid applications, on-site generation (hybrid renewables, geothermal, natural gas, SMRs), and load flexibility.
Background and implementation details: The article reviews existing and emerging measures including FERC Order 2023 (streamlining transmission planning and interconnection via consolidated planning and expedited studies with RTOs/ISOs such as SPP, MISO, CAISO); describes a recent Indiana settlement requiring new large loads >70 MW to sign long-term contracts (up to 12 years) with ramp-in periods, minimum charges, and upfront collateral; and lists equipment lead times (distribution transformers 30–50 weeks, large power transformers up to 150 weeks, switchgear ~1 year+) as constraints that require domestic supply-chain incentives and standardized protocols.

Oct 8, 2025

Why This Summer’s Heat Proved the Case for a Smarter Grid

Marcus Krembs of Enel North America argues that smarter, flexible grid resources and rapid deployment of renewables, storage, and demand response helped the U.S. grid avoid major blackouts during the extreme Summer 2025 heat, and that faster transformation is required.

Main announcement/action: The commentary states that renewables, storage, and demand response materially improved grid resilience during Summer 2025 — citing 44% renewable supply through the first seven months of 2025, 13.5 GW of new renewable generation in Texas that reduced ERCOT blackout risk from 11% to <1%, and projected demand-response dispatches (from 411 last summer to a projected 720 dispatches this year). It calls for accelerated interconnection reform, more transmission, and scaled storage to meet rising demand.
Background and details: Provides supporting facts: fossil-fuel generation reached 290 TWh (nine-year high), PJM reduced load by >4,000 MW during extreme peaks using demand response, and the Department of Energy projects data center electricity demand could reach 12% of U.S. consumption by 2028. Mentions specific partnerships/agreements: Google signed demand response agreements with Indiana Michigan Power and Tennessee Power Authority for its AI data centers.

Oct 8, 2025

Ultra-Fast Fiber Internet Coming to Jackson with $48 Million Metronet Expansion

Metronet announced a major infrastructure investment to expand its 100% fiber-optic network to Jackson, Summit, Vandercook Lake and Blackman Township in Michigan.

Main announcement/action: Metronet received a $48 million private investment to expand its 100% fiber-optic network delivering multigigabit internet to tens of thousands of homes and businesses in Jackson, Summit, Vandercook Lake and Blackman Township; construction begins this month and will progress across multiple neighborhoods over the coming months, with Metronet notifying residents/businesses at least 30 days before crews begin and using yard signs, door hangers and neighborhood signs during buildout. T-Mobile Fiber will provide residential service (marketing, sales and customer experience) with plans starting at $55/month for 500 Mbps with Fiber AutoPay and a T-Mobile voice line (unlimited data, no annual contracts, equipment or installation fees; 5-year price guarantee exclusions apply); Metronet will offer commercial service up to 10 Gbps directly.
Background and additional details: Metronet is now owned by a joint venture of T-Mobile and KKR; the company serves more than 2.6 million homes and businesses in 300+ communities across 19 states, and construction is already in progress or complete in 40+ Michigan communities including Lansing, Grand Rapids and Portage. Media contact: Erica Mastropierro, media@metronet.com, 573.258.8247. More info at metronet.com, metronet.com/construction and fiber.t-mobile.com.

Sep 27, 2025

Private equity sees profits in power utilities as electric bills rise and big tech seeks more energy

BlackRock subsidiary and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board have proposed buying Allete, parent of Minnesota Power; the deal faces regulatory review by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission with a potential Oct. 3 vote.

Main announcement: A BlackRock subsidiary and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board have proposed a buyout of Allete (parent of Minnesota Power) for $6.2 billion (including $67 a share, a 19% premium). The deal impacts a utility serving ~150,000 customers, could influence whether Google builds a data center in the region, and is scheduled for a possible Oct. 3 vote by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Allete projects it will need $4.3 billion for transmission and clean energy projects over five years and says the buyout will not affect electric rates.
Background and other details: Private equity and infrastructure investors (including Blackstone) are pursuing multiple utility transactions (eg: bids for Public Service Company of New Mexico and Texas New Mexico Power Co; earlier sales in Wisconsin and a 19.9% stake sale in Northern Indiana). An administrative law judge (Megan J. McKenzie) recommended rejecting the Allete deal, and commission staff warned private investors could leverage the utility with debt to capture higher regulated returns. Opponents (eg: Energy and Policy Institute, state attorney general) cite risks of higher rates; supporters include building trades unions and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s administration.

Sep 13, 2025

Big Tech's energy-hungry data centers could be bumped off grids during power emergencies

Policymakers and grid operators are proposing rules to allow utilities or grid operators to disconnect large data centers during power emergencies.

Main action: Several U.S. regions are considering or implementing rules that would let utilities or grid operators disconnect large data centers during power emergencies to avoid widespread blackouts; Texas passed a bill in June ordering standards for power emergencies, PJM (which serves 65 million people) has proposed that proposed data centers may not be guaranteed electricity during a power emergency, and the Indiana & Michigan Power and Google filed a power-supply contract for a proposed $2 billion Fort Wayne data center in which Google agreed to reduce electricity use when the grid is stressed (key contract details remain confidential).
Background and details: Grid operators such as Southwest Power Pool (serving 18 million people) and Monitoring Analytics warn data center load could overwhelm grids; data centers use backup diesel generators, the Data Center Coalition seeks flexible standards, and advocates like Dan Diorio recommend pairing mandatory actions with financial rewards for voluntary reductions. The surge in demand is linked to AI growth since late 2022 (ChatGPT), and regulators and governors have raised legal and investment concerns about the proposals.

Aug 13, 2025

50 States of Power Decarbonization Q2 2025: States Restrict Plant Retirements and Investigate Emerging Energy Sources

The NC Clean Energy Technology Center released its Q2 2025 edition of the “50 States of Power Decarbonization” quarterly report.

Main announcement: The Q2 2025 report found 48 states and Puerto Rico took 393 actions related to electric power decarbonization and resource planning during the quarter, and noted 317 introduced bills not yet passed. The report also summarizes planned capacity changes from recently filed or under‑review integrated resource plans: 118,262 MW solar, 98,317 MW natural gas, 50,117 MW wind, 47,258 MW storage, and 44,286 MW planned coal retirements.
Background and details: The report identifies three Q2 2025 trends: (1) lawmakers imposing conditions on electric generation facility retirements; (2) states researching effects of large load customers (e.g., data centers) on the grid; (3) legislators investigating advanced nuclear and geothermal. It highlights top policy developments in Connecticut, Arkansas, Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri, Maine, and an Indiana executive order; media contact is Shannon Helm, NCCETC (shannon_helm@ncsu.edu).

Aug 8, 2025

The data center balance: How US states can navigate the opportunities and challenges

The article by McKinsey authors analyzes the rapid growth and investment in data center infrastructure driven by AI and cloud computing demand in the United States.

$7 trillion global investment by 2030, with over 40% in the US; Northern Virginia holds 13% of global capacity, demonstrating strategic regional growth.
Challenges include power supply strain (460 TWh increase by 2030), water scarcity, resource bottlenecks, and community pushback; Ohio’s $10B+ AWS expansion and AEP’s $2.82B transmission build-out exemplify coordinated infrastructure and workforce initiatives.

Aug 4, 2025 · Google

How we’re making data centers more flexible to benefit power grids

Google has announced progress in implementing demand response capabilities in its data centers, including new agreements with Indiana Michigan Power and Tennessee Valley Authority to target machine learning workloads for energy demand flexibility.

Demand response agreements with I&M and TVA mark the first use of ML workload targeting to reduce power demand during grid events, building on prior success with Omaha Public Power District.
Flexible demand solutions are deployed in multiple regions (US, Belgium, Taiwan) to support grid reliability, reduce need for new infrastructure, and integrate with Google’s 24/7 carbon-free energy goals, with ongoing collaboration planned with utilities and industry partners.

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