North Carolina Data Center Intel

Recent North Carolina data center news

• Dec 1, 2025

  Hurricanes in 2024 led to the most hours without power in the United States in 10 years

  U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that U.S. electricity customers experienced an average of 11 hours of electricity interruptions in 2024, nearly twice the annual average of the previous decade.

  • Main finding: The EIA’s Electric Power Annual 2024 shows U.S. customers averaged 11 hours of interruptions in 2024; Hurricanes Beryl, Helene, and Milton accounted for 80% of hours without electricity, and interruptions attributed to major events averaged nearly 9 hours in 2024 versus nearly 4 hours (2014–2023). The report uses industry metrics SAIDI and SAIFI to characterize outages.
  • Details & state impacts: The report cites South Carolina averaged nearly 53 hours without power in 2024; Hurricane Beryl left 2.6 million Texas customers without power (July), Hurricane Helene left 5.9 million customers across 10 states (with at least 1.2 million in South Carolina), and Hurricane Milton left 3.4 million Florida customers without power; Hawaii averaged 4.4 interruptions, while several states (Arizona, South Dakota, North Dakota, Massachusetts) averaged less than 2 hours of interruptions.
• Nov 10, 2025

  Salute Military Story: Frederick “Fritz” Little

  Fritz Little, retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel and Director of Program Delivery at Salute, describes his transition from military service and USAID into a leadership role at a large data center campus in Northern Virginia.

  • Main announcement: Fritz Little joined as Director of Program Delivery at a large data center campus in Northern Virginia after taking early retirement from USAID earlier this year following budget cuts; his transition was initiated after attending a veteran-focused job fair run by iMasons Armed Forces Groups and through rapid outreach and mentorship from Lee Kirby. He reports joining the data center community as of July.
  • Background and details: Little enlisted at 17 and served 35 years in the Army (Military Police, Special Operations Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations), deployed to Tajikistan (Dushanbe, 2001), Afghanistan, and Iraq, and finished as Civil Affairs Branch Chief at US Special Operations Command; he later worked at USAID in humanitarian assistance and disaster response prior to early retirement.
• Nov 8, 2025

  Duke Energy beats quarterly estimates as power demand in the Carolinas increases

  Duke Energy reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter results and signed about three gigawatts of energy service agreements with data centers.

  • Main announcement/action: Duke Energy beat Q3 revenue and profit estimates, reporting quarterly revenue of $8.54 billion and adjusted EPS of $1.81, and said it has signed about 3 gigawatts of energy service agreements with data centers this year (including deals with Digital Realty and Edged). CFO Brian Savoy said: “I think you’ll see the three gigawatts grow in a meaningful way as we move through the quarters.” The company plans to add over 13 gigawatts of energy capacity over the next five years and expects to earn in the upper half of its 5%–7% profit growth range starting in 2028.
  • Background and details: Duke narrowed full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $6.25–$6.35 per share (from $6.17–$6.42); adjusted electric utilities segment earnings were $1.69 billion (up from $1.46 billion year-ago). The company’s refreshed five-year capital plan, expected in February, is expected to range between $95 billion and $105 billion. Duke is considering adding large traditional and next-generation nuclear reactors and extending some coal plants; it also expects to recover about $1.1 billion in storm-related costs by February next year. The article cites the U.S. Energy Information Administration projecting record U.S. power demand in 2025–2026 driven by AI data centers and electrification.
• Nov 6, 2025

  50 States of Power Decarbonization Q3 2025: States Work to Accelerate Clean Energy Project Development and Define “Large” Load Customers

  The NC Clean Energy Technology Center released the Q3 2025 edition of the 50 States of Power Decarbonization quarterly report.

  • Key announcement: The Q3 2025 report documents that 48 states and Puerto Rico took a total of 384 actions related to electric power decarbonization and resource planning in Q3 2025, with 234 introduced bills (not yet passed a chamber). The report also summarizes planned capacity additions from integrated resource plans: solar 87,539 MW, natural gas 77,145 MW, wind 43,031 MW, storage 39,310 MW, and planned coal retirements 33,424 MW. Top active states listed are North Carolina, California, and Minnesota (followed by Indiana, Missouri, and Oregon).

  • Background and details: The report identifies three trends: (1) states responding to federal clean energy policy changes (citing the passage of OBBBA) and accelerating project development (focus on permitting and interconnection), (2) states/utilities reconsidering demand thresholds for large load customers (e.g., data centers), and (3) state regulators revising integrated resource planning rules. The report highlights five specific Q3 developments, including North Carolina lawmakers repealing interim emission targets, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approving a new NIPSCO subsidiary for large loads, Ohio approving an AEP Ohio customer class for data centers, the Southwest Power Pool’s new interconnection policy for large loads, and Georgia/Virginia regulators approving IRPs for Georgia Power and Dominion Energy.

• Nov 5, 2025

  Developer Forges Ahead With $38B in North Carolina Data Center Builds

  Energy Storage Solutions announced a plan to build a massive 900 MW, 300-acre data center and energy storage campus (Kingsboro) in Tarboro, N.C., after Edgecombe County amended zoning to permit data center construction.

  • Project details: Energy Storage Solutions expects to break ground on the $19.2 billion Kingsboro project in Q1 2026; the buildout will be in 24 phases over 3–5 years, include about a dozen 40,000-square-foot structures per campus, support >1,000 employees per campus, and a twin project is planned for Fayetteville, N.C. The company says the Kingsboro project will add $75 million in annual tax revenue for Edgecombe County.
  • Background and implementation details: The company will use natural gas for on-site power generation, may pay $176 million in local energy infrastructure upgrades, and plans to sell surplus power back to utilities at a discount. Edgecombe County earlier voted down a separate $6.4 million, 100 MW project; commissioners on Monday unanimously amended the Unified Development Ordinance to allow data center construction in specified industrial zoning districts. Shaffer declined to disclose investor or vendor names.
• Nov 5, 2025

  BridgePeak Energy Capital Facilitates $144 Million Construction Loan to Finance 112.5MWdc Headwater Energy Solar Project

  Headwater Energy announced it closed construction financing for the 112.5MWdc Gum Swamp solar project in North Carolina, arranged by BridgePeak Energy Capital and funded in part by Pathward.

  • Financing and project details: The transaction closed for the 112.5MWdc Gum Swamp solar project, projected to power ~17,000 North Carolina households annually; the loan was originated under Pathward’s energy lending program with a lender syndicate and BridgePeak serving as lender service provider. The project is scheduled to be placed in service in 18 months. Headwater currently reports 177MWdc operational assets and a 2.8GWdc development pipeline.
  • Partnership and financial context: BridgePeak stated the deal is part of its initiative to facilitate over $2 billion in energy project financing in 2025; as of September 30, 2025 BridgePeak services a $3.7 billion commercial loan portfolio and since founding (2020) has closed over $5.4 billion in loans to U.S. energy projects. Contact for media/finance inquiries: info@BridgePeak.com (Mac Cooney, Director).
• Nov 4, 2025

  Essential Utilities Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results

  Essential Utilities announced Q3 2025 financial results and multi-year infrastructure and strategic actions.

  • Main announcement: Essential reported Q3 2025 net income of $92.1 million ($0.33 per share) and quarter revenues of $477.0 million, while reaffirming a capital investment plan of approximately $7.8 billion from 2025–2029 (including $1.4–$1.5 billion expected in 2025). The company also announced an all-stock merger agreement with American Water Works Company, Inc. (announced Oct 27, 2025) to create a combined public utility with an approximate pro forma market capitalization of $40 billion and combined enterprise value of $63 billion, with the transaction expected to close by the end of Q1 2027 subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.

  • Other key details and partnerships: Essential signed an agreement with International Electric Power III, LLC (IEP) to invest in a 1,400-acre data center project in Greene County, Pennsylvania, where Aqua will design, build, and operate an 18 million gallons per day (MGD) water treatment plant (expected operational mid-2029); the company expects to finance approximately $25 million of the data center investment via its ATM program in 2025. Rate awards/surcharges totaling $101.5 million were received across water and gas segments (water: $92.6 million; gas: $8.9 million). Webcast remarks: Date: November 5, 2025; Time: 9 a.m. ET; Access: Essential.co Investors page; archived for one year.

• Nov 4, 2025

  Essential Utilities Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results

  Essential Utilities announced its third-quarter 2025 financial results and significant strategic actions, including an agreement to invest in a Greene County, Pennsylvania data center project and a definitive all‑stock merger agreement with American Water Works Company, Inc.

  • Quarter results & merger: Reported Q3 2025 net income of $92.1 million and revenues of $477.0 million; board declared a $0.3426 per share quarterly dividend payable Dec 1, 2025; announced a definitive all‑stock, tax‑free merger with American Water Works Company, Inc. creating a pro forma market capitalization of approximately $40 billion and combined enterprise value of approximately $63 billion, with the transaction expected to close by end of Q1 2027, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals (including Hart‑Scott‑Rodino clearance).
  • Capital programs & project details: Plans ~$7.8 billion of regulated infrastructure investment from 2025–2029 (including >300 PFAS projects); expects 2025 regulated infrastructure investments of $1.4–$1.5 billion; Aqua will design, build, and operate an 18 MGD water treatment plant for a 1,400‑acre Greene County data center/power project (operational target mid‑2029); company reaffirmed a 60% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2035 (2019 baseline) and expects to raise ~$350 million equity in 2025 (including $25 million to finance the data center investment).
• Nov 3, 2025

  Energy Affordability: Price Trends and Factors

  Vincent Potter of the NC Clean Energy Technology Center outlines factors driving U.S. electricity price increases and notes that many utilities have active rate cases as of October 2025.

  • Main announcement/action: The article explains that data center expansion, infrastructure upgrade and replacement costs, and fuel cost volatility are creating upward pressure on retail electricity prices; as of October 2025, at least 50 electric utilities in 29 states and Puerto (Puerto Rico) have rate cases pending before regulators. The piece cites EIA data showing residential prices rose from 16.61¢/kWh in July 2024 to 17.47¢/kWh in July 2025, and an overall 2020–2025 increase of 3.88¢/kWh nationally (with California ≈ +12.5¢/kWh).
  • Background and details: The author highlights data center maps and the DELTa database (NC Clean Energy Technology Center partnered with Smart Electric Power Alliance to compile/release the Database of Emerging Large-load Tariffs) as tools to track large-load tariff developments; it also documents supply-chain delays (Reuters reported ~five-year lead times for new gas turbines) and rising equipment lead times and costs, plus that natural gas supplied over 40% of U.S. electricity in 2024, with wholesale gas prices ranging ~$2.10–$6.60 per Mcf, a 2025 EIA projection of $3.50 per Mcf, and delivered industrial gas ≈ $3.30–$7.70 per Mcf.
• 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.