North Carolina Data Center Intel

Recent North Carolina data center news

• Apr 30, 2026

  US administration ‘must make it easier to get things built,’ DOE chief of staff says

  The US Department of Energy (DOE), represented by chief of staff Carl Coe, called for easing permitting and policy barriers to accelerate construction of energy projects—particularly battery energy storage systems (BESS)—in remarks at Wood Mackenzie’s Solar & Energy Storage Summit on 29 April in Colorado.

  • Main announcement: Carl Coe urged the DOE and other authorities to make it “easier to get things built,” prioritising faster permitting and policy changes to unblock projects such as BESS.
    • Event: Wood Mackenzie Power and Renewables’ Solar & Energy Storage Summit
    • Date: 29 April
    • Location: Colorado, US
    • Subject/agenda: US BESS deployment, permitting and market rules, grid procurement
  • Background and concrete details: The DOE has closed a US$26.5 billion loan package with subsidiaries of Southern Company (to develop/enhance >16 GW capacity, including ~6 GW nuclear uprates), announced plans for multi‑billion dollar loans for long‑lead nuclear items, previously cancelled over US$7 billion of wind/solar funding, and disbursed more than US$100 million of a US$1.52 billion loan guarantee for Palisades; meanwhile Wood Mackenzie forecasts ~500 GWh of new energy storage installs over the next five years and recorded 18.9 GW / 51 GWh in recent full‑year/Q1 totals.
• Apr 29, 2026

  Data Centers Face a New Constraint: Public Consent

  Data Center Frontier reports that public consent has become a material constraint on US data center development.

  • Main development: State and local actions are escalating: Maine lawmakers advanced LD 307 (would have paused approvals for facilities ≥20 megawatts through Nov 1, 2027) and proposed a Maine Data Center Coordination Council to study AI-scale impacts; Governor Janet Mills vetoed the bill, but executive action and local freezes (e.g., Bangor’s proposed 180-day pause) are expected to proceed.
  • Additional facts & context: Local and county actions include Hood County/Granbury litigation and regulation efforts (county sought legal guidance from Ken Paxton), Huron County expanding a moratorium to three years, Stokes County rezoning litigation over roughly 1,845 acres, Aurora adopting stringent permitting and reporting rules, and a contested $6 billion data center approval in Festus tied to electoral backlash (four council members removed).
• Apr 27, 2026

  Small modular reactors and microreactors under development in the United States

  The U.S. Department of Energy announced renewed support for SMR development, including a $900 million funding tender and selection of vendors for the Energy Reactor Pilot Program.

  • DOE actions: In March 2025 DOE reissued a tender for $900 million to promote SMR development and in June 2025 announced the Energy Reactor Pilot Program, selecting vendors (Aalo Atomics Inc.; Antares Nuclear, Inc.; Deep Fission Inc.; Last Energy Inc.; Oklo Inc.; Natura Resources LLC; Radiant Industries Inc.; Terrestrial Energy Inc.; Valar Atomics Inc.). Applicants are responsible for funding individual pilot reactor designs while the program aims to fast-track licensing and attract private funding.
  • Defense and implementation details: The Defense Innovation Unit and military services are advancing microreactor adoption: the Army launched the Janus Program (sites shortlisted at nine bases) and the Air Force plans a commercial microreactor at Eielson Air Force Base with Oklo, Inc. supplying a sodium-cooled Aurora design targeting 1 MW to 5 MW by 2027; the Department of the Navy is soliciting offers for on-site SMRs and microreactors.
• Apr 23, 2026

  Energy Policy Task Force Addresses Growing Electricity Demand in North Carolina

  Governor Josh Stein established the Energy Policy Task Force to strengthen energy infrastructure and affordability in North Carolina.

  • Energy Policy Task Force established by Governor Josh Stein, co-chaired by NC DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson and Representative Kyle Hall, comprises 30 energy experts and bi-partisan policymakers; it is staffed by the NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC), the NC Office of the Governor, NC DEQ, and the NC Department of Commerce. The task force is required to submit an annual report to the Governor, General Assembly, North Carolina Utilities Commission, North Carolina Rural Electrification Authority, and the public; it released an interim report on Feb 15, 2026 and will provide a more detailed report on or before Feb 15, 2027.

  • The task force has two subcommittees—Load Growth Subcommittee and Technical Advisory Subcommittee—and has held meetings on Sept 30, 2025; Dec 2, 2025; Jan 22, 2026; Feb 3 & Feb 10, 2026; and Apr 8, 2026. Presenters and contributors included LBNL, SEPA, CESA, Indiana Office of Energy Development, Virginia State Corporation Commission, David Gardiner and Associates, and Microsoft (which discussed its “Community-First AI Infrastructure Plan”). The interim report contains nine preliminary recommendations (including large load tariffs, BYOC, interconnection reforms, and data center energy/water reporting); the Technical Advisory Subcommittee plans to release a technical modeling report within months.

• Apr 23, 2026 · Hensel Phelps

  Recent Project Wins: Advancing Domestic Manufacturing Across Critical Sectors

  Hensel Phelps has been selected for multiple U.S. manufacturing projects including Nammo’s rocket motor factory, Jabil’s Project Shine renovation, and SPS Technologies’ Jenkintown 2.0 redevelopment.

  • Main announcement: Hensel Phelps was selected as General Contractor for Nammo’s new rocket motor facility in Perry, Florida (scheduled to be operational by end of 2027), awarded as GC; awarded Construction Manager-at-Risk (CMAR) delivery for Jabil Project Shine in Salisbury, NC and for SPS Technologies Jenkintown 2.0 in Abington, PA. The Jenkintown rebuild covers a 20-acre site with a 335,500-square-foot facility including a central utility plant, substation, plating lines and a wastewater treatment plant.
  • Background and details:Jabil is pursuing a planned multi-year $500 million investment to expand U.S. manufacturing for cloud and AI data-center hardware (link referenced); Nammo’s expansion aims to strengthen U.S.-based solid rocket motor production and transatlantic industrial cooperation; the Jenkintown project is rebuilding after a February 2025 fire and is designed to meet at least LEED Silver certification. Delivery model timelines: Jabil & SPS use CMAR for phased execution and early cost alignment; Nammo site has clearing and groundwork underway with vertical construction to follow.
• Apr 20, 2026

  U.S. Data Center Gold Rush Drives Surge in New Utility Tariffs

  SEPA and the NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) updated the Database of Emerging Large-Load Tariffs (DELTa) on March 31, 2026.

  • Update details: DELTa now summarizes and analyzes 77 approved and proposed tariffs and service rules across 60 utilities (including 51 approved and 26 proposed). Key dataset metrics include 36 states with tracked tariffs, 56% of tariffs specifying thresholds > 20 MW, and 14% specifying minimum loads of 100 MW.
  • Policy and regulatory actions: The note documents recent state actions and proposals: Pennsylvania PUC proposed a model tariff (minimum demand 50 MW or 100 MW in aggregate; 5-year minimum contract term; 3–5 year ramp; 80% minimum billing demand; up to 20% post-term load reduction; financial security and hardship fund contributions); New York PSC opened an Energize NY proceeding (stakeholder comments due May 13, 2026); North Carolina Task Force interim report (Feb 2026) recommends large-load tariff options and alternative capacity procurement; other actions include Utah S.B. 132 (March 2025, 100 MW threshold), Texas S.B. 6 (June 2025), California S.B. 57 (Oct 2025, CPUC findings due Jan 1, 2027), and Missouri executive order (Jan 2026). FERC’s ANOPR action on large-load interconnection reforms is expected by June 2026.
• Apr 14, 2026

  States are Struggling to Meet Their Clean Energy Goals. Data Centers are to Blame

  NV Energy warns it will need three times the electricity required to power Las Vegas to serve proposed data centers and may have to rely on fossil fuels, putting Nevada’s 50% renewable-by-2030 target at risk.

  • NV Energy warning & actions: NV Energy (which provides electricity to 90% of the state) says it will need three times the electricity required to power Las Vegas to handle proposed data centers and that it “probably can’t do that without fossil fuels.” The utility will require companies to fund their own infrastructure and sign contracts ensuring commitment before energy is built, and it plans to publish a report with more specifics by the end of the month. The situation mirrors broader industry moves (e.g., utilities delaying coal retirements or building gas plants; NextEra Energy dropped its zero-emissions-by-2045 goal citing the “demand for all forms of power generation”).

  • Background & related details: Some operators like Switch say they run on renewables and have built 1 gigawatt of solar and can self-supply at peak demand; environmental groups warn proposed centers would deploy hundreds of diesel backup generators that could worsen air quality and raise concerns about noise, water supply, and energy bills. Nevada’s volunteer funding model (companies fund clean energy development and count it toward corporate goals) produced a geothermal plant with Google as a partner; lawmakers are debating making such funding mandatory and the Public Utilities Commission may fine or grant exemptions if clean energy goals aren’t met.

• Apr 14, 2026

  XCF Global, Southern Energy Renewables and DevvStream Sign Definitive Business Combination Agreement with Respect to Previously Announced Proposed Three-Party Merger to Create Next-Generation Energy Platform

  XCF Global, Inc. has announced the execution of a definitive Business Combination Agreement with DevvStream Corp. and Southern Energy Renewables Inc. to form a combined, globally scalable energy transition platform.

  • Transaction announcement and structure: The parties executed a definitive Business Combination Agreement to merge XCF, DevvStream and Southern into a combined company; DevvStream will domesticate from Alberta to Delaware prior to closing, XCF will acquire 100% of DevvStream and Southern through merger subsidiaries, and post-closing ownership is expected to be ~66.7% XCF shareholders, 23.3% Southern shareholders, and 10.0% DevvStream shareholders. The transaction remains subject to shareholder approvals, SEC Form S-4 effectiveness, Nasdaq approvals, completion of financing, plant conversion, commercial milestones and fairness opinions.

  • Capital, milestones and assets: XCF has invested ~$10 million in conversion of the New Rise Reno facility (permitted nameplate 38 million gallons/year) to support SAF production; Southern is expected to pursue up to $400 million in bond financing for infrastructure; the combined company is targeting annualized fuel-related revenues > $1.0 billion and minimum annualized EBITDA of $100 million, and has an aspirational target of creating a $3.0 billion combined enterprise on a future date.

• Apr 9, 2026

  Data Centers Are Contributing to PFAS Forever Chemical Pollution

  The EPA announced proposals in 2025 to delay PFAS drinking-water compliance and to fast-track chemical reviews for data-center projects.

  • EPA proposals (May–Sept 2025): The EPA proposed pushing back the compliance deadline for PFAS drinking-water standards to 2031 and announced plans to fast-track review of chemicals used in data centers to support the goal of making the U.S. the “AI capital of the world”; President Trump issued an executive order directing multiple federal agencies (EPA, DOI, DOE, DOC) to expedite permitting for data-center materials and infrastructure.
  • Background and parallel actions: Congress (117th) designated $1 billion via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and other PFAS wastewater programs; private-sector and state actions include 3M exiting PFAS manufacturing by end of 2025, Maine’s phased ban on many PFAS products (effective dates 2026–2040, coolants banned from 2040), and Minnesota’s statutes requiring PFAS reporting standards by 2026 and product-sale restrictions effective 2025 with broader bans by 2032.
• Apr 7, 2026

  T-Mobile Eyes Uniti Fiber Assets as Expansion Strategy Continues

  T-Mobile is exploring a potential acquisition of Uniti Group’s Kinetic fiber business.

  • Main announcement: T-Mobile is reportedly exploring a potential acquisition of Uniti Group’s Kinetic fiber business (operated through Windstream) to accelerate its push into fiber broadband and gain immediate access to an established rural fiber network; this follows T-Mobile’s 2025 acquisitions of Lumos and Metronet.
  • Background and details:TPG is separately evaluating Uniti’s enterprise-focused business (indicating a possible split of assets); Uniti serves about 2 million locations across 18 states; recent Kinetic buildouts in North Carolina include 95 miles in Cabarrus County and 78 miles in Stanly County as part of an $8 million broadband expansion effort; Uniti’s stock moved from about $8 last week to $10 as of Monday amid the reported interest.