Kansas Data Center Intel

Recent Kansas data center news

• Jan 15, 2026

  Partnership Targets Low-Latency AI at Internet Exchange Points

  Moonshot and QumulusAI announced a strategic agreement with Connected Nation Internet Exchange Points (IXP.us) to deploy a nationally distributed AI compute and internet exchange platform designed for low-latency AI workloads at the network edge.

  • Main action: The partners will pair carrier-neutral internet exchange points with modular “AI Pods”, initially targeting 25 IXP.us sites and planning to scale to as many as 125 locations across U.S. research university campuses and municipalities over the next five years.
  • Details and timeline: The model colocates GPU compute adjacent to network-dense interconnection facilities as an alternative to centralized hyperscale data centers; the first deployment is scheduled to begin by July 2026 at an IXP.us site on the Wichita State University campus in Kansas.
• Jan 14, 2026

  Power, Not Space: The Colocation Battleground in 2026

  GridFree AI launched its South Dallas One site in December 2025, targeting to deliver more than 1.5 GW within 24 months from lease signing by operating off-grid.

  • Main announcement/action: GridFree AI’s South Dallas One will operate off-grid and aims to deliver >1.5 GW within 24 months from lease signing, outpacing the typical four-year timeline for traditional developments; this demonstrates a push toward power-advantaged site selection and accelerated delivery timelines.
  • Context and additional details: The article frames this within a broader industry shift: global colocation market forecast from $104.2 billion (2025) to $204.4 billion (2030); primary market vacancy fell to 1.6% H1 2025; ~3/4 of 5,242 MW under development in North America are pre-leased; pricing reached $184 per kW per month for 250–500 kW deployments; notable capital commitments include Anthropic’s $50 billion buildout (including a $7 billion, 15-year lease for 245 MW) and Nscale’s $865 million agreement for 40 MW. Supply-chain and memory/storage shortages are expected to persist into Q3 2026.
• Jan 14, 2026

  EPA tries to narrow water law powers

  The Environmental Protection Agency proposed a rule to narrow states’ and authorized tribes’ authority under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act to review and condition federally regulated projects.

  • Main action: The EPA’s proposal would limit the scope of Section 401 reviews to focus on direct discharges to federally regulated waters, set clear applicant submission requirements, impose strict review deadlines, and require states/tribes to fully explain any conditions or permit denials. A final rule is expected in the spring after a public comment period.
  • Background and specifics: The proposal largely reinstates Trump-era constraints, follows the Biden administration’s 2023 rule that allowed states to “holistically evaluate” project impacts, and comes after the 2023 Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision that narrowed federal jurisdiction over some waters. The rule explicitly targets reviews of projects including natural gas pipelines, dams and data centers, and drew criticism from Earthjustice saying EPA’s concerns are “baseless.”
• Jan 13, 2026

  US carbon pollution rose in 2025. Experts blame cold winter, high natural gas prices, data centers

  The Rhodium Group reported U.S. greenhouse gas emissions rose 2.4% in 2025.

  • Main finding and figures: The Rhodium Group estimated U.S. emissions rose 2.4% in 2025 to 5.9 billion tons (5.35 billion metric tons) CO2e, an increase of 139 million tons (126 million metric tons) from 2024; the report attributes the rise to a cold winter, explosive growth of data centers and cryptocurrency mining, and higher natural gas prices leading to a 13% increase in coal power.
  • Background and additional details:Solar generation jumped 34%, zero-carbon sources supplied 42% of U.S. power, the study’s authors (including Ben King) said Trump administration rollbacks had not yet influenced 2025 levels, and researchers now project the 2035 emissions decline to be about one-third smaller than previous projections; statements and reactions were provided by the University of Michigan (Jonathan Overpeck), activist Bill McKibben, and the EPA.
• Jan 13, 2026

  US carbon pollution rose in 2025. Experts blame cold winter, high natural gas prices, data centers

  Rhodium Group calculated that U.S. greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2025 compared with 2024.

  • Main finding: The Rhodium Group estimated the U.S. emitted 5.9 billion tons (5.35 billion metric tons) of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2025, an increase of 139 million tons (126 million metric tons) from 2024; the report cites a cool winter, explosive growth of data centers and cryptocurrency mining, and higher natural gas prices as primary drivers, with coal generation up 13% contributing substantially to the power-sector increase.
  • Additional details and context:Solar generation jumped 34%, pushing solar past hydro and bringing zero-carbon sources to 42% of U.S. power; the Rhodium authors say Trump administration policy rollbacks had not been in place long enough to affect 2025 data, and the report’s earlier 2035 projections have been revised down (projected pollution drop now about one-third less than prior estimates).
• Jan 9, 2026

  Meta Locks In Up to 6.6 GW of Nuclear Power Through Deals With Vistra, Oklo, and TerraPower

  Meta announced agreements with Vistra, Oklo, and TerraPower to secure up to 6.6 GW of nuclear capacity by 2035.

  • Main announcement and deal scope: Meta will underwrite a suite of nuclear deals that collectively target up to 6.6 GW by 2035, including a 20-year PPA with Vistra for 2,176 MW plus 433 MW of uprates (2,609 MW total) that begin deliveries in late 2026 and reach full 2,609 MW by 2034; an Oklo-backed Aurora campus up to 1.2 GW in Pike County, Ohio (pre-construction and site work beginning 2026, first phase online as early as 2030, full 1.2 GW by 2034); and TerraPower funding for two Natrium units (690 MWe) targeted as early as 2032 plus Meta rights to energy from up to six additional Natrium units (2.1 GW) targeted by 2035.
  • Background, implementation details, and context: Meta’s support includes prepayments and long-term PPAs to shift early-stage capital and risk onto Meta to help developers secure fuel, permits, and financing; Vistra’s three plants were acquired as part of a $3.4 billion Energy Harbor transaction (March 2024); PJM capacity prices signaled tight markets (clearing at $269.92/MW-day and hitting the $329/MW-day cap in subsequent auctions), underscoring the near-term need for firm capacity in the PJM region.
• Jan 2, 2026

  State Broadband Bills of 2025: A Legislative Review

  State legislatures across the United States enacted and considered broadband-related legislation in 2025; fewer than 140 of more than 600 proposed bills became law.

  • Main actions: States enacted laws prioritizing infrastructure and permitting reforms, pole and rights-of-way access, criminal penalties for theft/vandalism, state broadband funding, and data center incentives. Notable enacted measures include Hawaii H 934 (established a state Broadband Office and programs, enacted in June and backed by $400 million in combined funding), West Virginia SB 907 (expanded the Economic Development Project Fund to allow up to $25 million annually for broadband incentives and up to $125 million annually for broadband loan insurance) and West Virginia HB 2014 (signed in April; created microgrid districts with zoning/permitting exemptions and special property tax treatment for qualifying projects).
  • Additional details and timelines: States also raised criminal penalties (e.g., Oklahoma classified willful damage to a critical infrastructure facility as a Class D3 felony with fines up to $100,000 and prison up to 10 years; Louisiana authorized fines up to $50,000 and prison up to 20 years; California AB 476 increased penalties for knowingly buying illegally obtained scrap metal to $5,000). Other enacted programs include California SB 338 (a $2 million telehealth pilot), New Mexico SB 126 (Rural USF increased from $30 million to $40 million), and Oregon’s device support up to $100 in Lifeline-related assistance. At least 37 states passed data center incentives in 2025 and over 1,000 AI-focused bills were introduced nationwide, with ~38 states adopting or enacting roughly 100 AI measures in 2025.
• Dec 25, 2025

  Arkansas’s best environment stories of 2025

  Arkansas Times published a roundup of the state’s most notable farm and environment stories from 2025.

  • Main roundup and key actions: The piece summarizes reporting on Entergy proposals including the 745 MW Jefferson Power Station gas plant, the proposed Cypress Solar array (600 MW) plus 350 MW battery storage tied partially to Google’s West Memphis data center (regulators approved a special rate contract with Google); Entergy customers were estimated to face up to $20 average monthly bill increases within five years. It also documents state action preserving the Buffalo River moratorium on hog CAFO permits and a West Memphis data center groundbreaking attended by Gov. Sarah Sanders (Oct. 2, 2025).
  • Background and other details:Standard Lithium and majors (Equinor, ExxonMobil, Albemarle, Chevron) are advancing south Arkansas lithium projects with construction likely in 2026 and Standard Lithium targeting production in 2028; the article reports on tornado damage (a homeowner cited $60,000 in damages) and FEMA funding decisions (individual assistance approved but local government funding initially denied), and highlights local disputes over wind projects (Nimbus wind farm in Carroll County) and the farm economic crisis driving Hallie Shoffner’s U.S. Senate campaign.
• Dec 19, 2025

  House passes bill that could fast-track AI infrastructure projects

  The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan permitting reform bill (the SPEED Act) to modernize NEPA and accelerate federal approvals for infrastructure projects.

  • Key action: The House passed the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act in a 221-196 vote to limit federal actions that trigger NEPA reviews and speed permitting for infrastructure. The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and promoted in statements by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), and it now heads to the Senate.
  • Context & related developments: The advancement coincides with a federal push to expand AI infrastructure: President Donald Trump launched the Genesis Mission/American Science and Security Platform; the U.S. Department of Energy announced collaboration with 24 tech companies (including Google, AWS, Microsoft, OpenAI, Nvidia). Notable figures and amounts: AWS announced up to $50 billion for AI infrastructure; OpenAI–AWS partnership cited at $38 billion; Microsoft reported $11.1 billion in long-term asset spending in one quarter; McKinsey estimates $6.7 trillion needed for data centers by 2030 (with $5.2 trillion for AI-ready capex). The Genesis Mission cites an aggressive 270-day timeline for demonstrating capabilities.
• Dec 19, 2025

  US Expected To Install Over 7 GW of Wind Capacity In 2025, 36% More Than 2024

  Wood Mackenzie and the American Clean Power Association released a report projecting the U.S. will add more than 7 GW of wind capacity in 2025 (a 36% increase from 2024) and remain on track to install 46 GW between 2025–2029.

  • Main announcement: The report forecasts >7 GW of U.S. wind capacity additions in 2025 and an unchanged five-year outlook of 46 GW (2025–2029); capacity additions are expected to peak at 10.7 GW in 2026 and 12.7 GW in 2027, with 3.8 GW queued for Q4 2025 and Q3 2025 installations at 932 MW. It highlights major onshore projects including Pattern Energy’s 3.5-GW SunZia and Invenergy’s 998-MW Towner Energy Center, and notes Vineyard Wind connected 15 turbines and delivered about 200 GWh in the first nine months of the year.
  • Background and details: The report cites utilities committing ~160 GW of large-load additions and expects peak demand growth averaging ~3% through 2029, with data centres accounting for roughly 59 GW of the projected 90 GW peak-demand increase. It flags risks from elevated turbine costs, tariffs, permitting delays, and expects U.S. onshore wind capex to rise ~5% through 2029; repowering activity is expected to add about 2.5 GW across 18 projects in the next three years.