North Carolina Data Center Intel

Recent North Carolina data center news

• Oct 10, 2025

  Heimdall Power’s Neuron Named One of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025

  Heimdall Power announced that its Neuron sensor was named to TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025.

  • Main announcement: Heimdall Power’s flagship sensor, the Neuron™, was recognized on TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025 list; the release quotes CEO Jørgen Festervoll and describes the Neuron as a real-time power line sensor that measures line temperature, sag, current, and micro-climate conditions to enable dynamic line rating (DLR), ambient line rating (AAR), and asset health monitoring.
  • Background and details: Founded in 2016 and based in Norway, Heimdall Power states it is trusted by more than 50 utilities across 20 countries, combines patented sensors, advanced analytics, and AI-driven software, and uses proprietary drone-based installation capabilities; no monetary values or timelines were provided in the announcement.
• Oct 10, 2025

  Heimdall Power’s Neuron Named One of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025

  Heimdall Power announced its Neuron was named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025.

  • Announcement: Heimdall Power’s Neuron was named to TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025; the company highlighted the device as a “smartwatch for the power grid” that provides real-time measurements (line temperature, sag, current, micro-climate) enabling utilities to dynamically adjust power flows, unlock hidden capacity, reduce congestion costs, and improve reliability. Mentioned spokesperson: Jørgen Festervoll, CEO; press release distributed from Charlotte, N.C. via Business Wire.
  • Background & product details: Founded in 2016, Heimdall Power is a Norwegian technology company combining patented sensors, advanced analytics, and AI-driven software; the Neuron features drone-based installation capabilities and plug-and-play software with applications such as dynamic line rating (DLR), ambient line rating (AAR), and asset health monitoring. The company states it is trusted by more than 50 utilities across 20 countries.
• Oct 1, 2025

  Amazon Signs Deal for Solar Energy to Power Data Centers in U.S.

  Amazon announced it has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Avangrid to purchase electricity from the Oregon Trail Solar project in Oregon.

  • Project details: Oregon Trail Solar — 57 MWdc (41 MWac) capacity, expected operations in 2027, will supply Amazon’s data centers in the Pacific Northwest; construction is projected to create ~200 construction jobs (mostly local union workers), will install >100,000 solar panels, and is expected to generate roughly the annual electricity consumption of ~10,000 U.S. households.
  • Background and other details:Avangrid has operated in Oregon since 2001 and runs 2.5 GW of capacity in-state, including a National Training Center in Sherman County and a corporate office in Portland; the project will contribute approximately US$6 million in combined payments in lieu of taxes and property taxes over its lifetime to benefit schools and infrastructure; this is a follow-up collaboration after Avangrid and Amazon’s agreement for the Leaning Juniper IIA repower and follows similar partnerships in Illinois, Ohio, and North Carolina.
• 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 24, 2025

  Avangrid to supply power from Oregon Trail Solar Project to Amazon  

  Avangrid has announced a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Amazon for the Oregon Trail Solar Project.

  • Project and deal details: 57MW DC Oregon Trail Solar in Gilliam County, Oregon will supply renewable energy to Amazon’s data centres in the region; the facility is scheduled to start operations in 2027 and the PPA is the agreed mechanism for energy supply for those data centres.
  • Background and additional facts: The project features >100,000 solar panels, will generate electricity equivalent to ~10,000 US homes, is expected to create around 200 construction jobs (largely local union labour), and Avangrid anticipates approximately $6m in payments in lieu of taxes and property taxes over its lifetime; this builds on a prior PPA tied to the Leaning Juniper IIA repower project in Gilliam County and other agreements across Illinois, Ohio, and North Carolina. Avangrid has operated in Oregon since 2001 and currently manages 2.5GW of capacity and facilities including the National Training Center in Sherman County and a corporate office in Portland. Last month Avangrid signed a contract with SmartestEnergy for power from two projects in New Hampshire.
• Sep 10, 2025

  Climate Change Solutions - September 9, 2025

  The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) published a newsletter highlighting recent climate solutions, Congressional activity, briefings, and an upcoming AI-and-energy event.

  • Main announcement: EESI summarizes new content and events including articles on passive and sustainable cooling, grid resilience to heat waves, and a new Nature4Communities tool from U.S. Nature4Climate; it also hosted a briefing with the Ohio River Basin Alliance as part of its Resilient and Healthy Rivers series. Key figures and policy items cited include $57.3 billion in FY2026 discretionary funding in H.R.4553 (Energy and Water appropriations), a noted reduction of $766.4 million from 2025 levels, an authorizing proposal of $10 million to DOE under H.R.4490 (Wildfire Grid Resiliency Act), and $30 million annually directed to local officials under H.R.5154 (REACT Act).
  • Background and upcoming actions: The newsletter catalogs Congressional bills and hearings, media coverage, and events; it also announces an EESI briefing on AI and energy.
    • Event: “Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Energy and the Environment”
      • Date: Thursday, September 25
      • Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
      • Location: Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room (Room 2168) and online (livecast/RSVP link provided)
    • Other details: Highlight notes available for the 28th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy Forum and EXPO; a cited statistic: every $1 invested in transit generates $5 in economic returns.
• 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).
• Jul 31, 2025

  Why Your Electricity Bill Is So High

  The NRDC article explains how rising electricity bills in the U.S. are driven by aging fossil fuel power plants, policy decisions favoring costly and inefficient energy sources, and the growing electricity demand from AI and data centers.

  • Key facts: The Plant Vogtle nuclear project in Georgia cost $35 billion, $17 billion over budget, causing a 24% rate increase for customers; PJM grid delays in connecting 286 GW of renewables led to a 600% price increase affecting 67 million people; the Inflation Reduction Act had supported renewables but recent federal policies are rolling back incentives and promoting fossil fuels.
  • Confirmed impacts: Electricity prices rose 13% nationally from 2022 to 2025; AI and data centers could consume 5-9% of U.S. electricity by 2030; repeal of clean energy incentives may increase household energy costs by up to $430 annually by 2035.
• Jul 23, 2025 · Appalachian Voices

  Gas Buildout Continues Across Southeast

  The article reports on ongoing and planned expansions of methane gas infrastructure across Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

  • Duke Energy plans 9 gigawatts of new methane gas generation by 2035, delaying interim carbon reduction goals; Williams Companies and Mountain Valley Pipeline are advancing pipeline expansions crossing state borders.
  • Dominion Energy received state permission to increase fossil fuel use despite clean energy mandates, facing community opposition and expert testimony suggesting alternatives like battery storage could meet demand; Tennessee Valley Authority board changes have stalled its long-term energy planning while it proposes aggressive methane gas generation expansion.
• Jul 23, 2025

  Data centers seek flexible power solutions for resilience, sustainability