North Carolina Data Center Intel

Recent North Carolina data center news

• Jan 7, 2026

  Patented: Making a Degradable Ice Straw and More North Texas Inventive Activity

  Prive Products of Dallas has received a newly granted U.S. patent for a system and method to make degradable drinking straws from ice, invented by Thomas Surgent (Patent No. 12484726).

  • Main announcement: Prive Products, LLC — Patent No. 12484726 (Application No. 17609970 filed 05/16/2020; 2026 days app to issue) — describes a system with tubes extending into a reservoir, a connecting bar delivering hot and cold fluid into the tubes, and a resulting hollow ice straw that can cool a beverage as liquid passes through the straw. The abstract states: “A system and method for making degradable drinking straws made of ice (or other frozen liquid(s)).”
  • Background & roundup details: Dallas-Fort Worth was ranked No. 9 among 250 metros for the week of 12/2/25 with 134 patents granted. The article is a patent roundup (announcement/summary) listing top assignees (e.g., Texas Instruments Inc. — 15 patents), notable grants (Bank of America, Dell, IBM, Verily, Lennox, Halliburton, etc.), and includes patent abstracts, assignees, inventor locations, application numbers and days from application to issue. For partnerships or deals, the article provides assignee and patent filing/issue dates but no implementation timelines beyond application and issue dates.
• Jan 7, 2026

  Software: Batteries’ Unsung Hero

  FlexGen CTO Hugh Scott argues that advanced, hardware-agnostic energy management systems (EMS) are essential to ensure BESS availability and protect project ROI.

  • Main announcement/action: FlexGen (via CTO Hugh Scott) advocates implementation of advanced, hardware-agnostic EMS to maximize battery availability and ROI; concrete practices highlighted include remote monitoring, preventative maintenance, state-of-health diagnostics, and scheduling maintenance away from high-earning events. Example scenario: two identical sites, one delivering 90 MW instead of its contracted 100 MW, demonstrates how a high-performance EMS can detect and resolve faults faster to avoid lost revenue.
  • Background and details: The commentary describes evolving use cases (peak shaving → multi-service operations), applicability to AI-driven loads and data centers, and hybrid sites (solar-plus-storage). It references the FlexGen Innovation Lab in Durham, North Carolina (HybridOS EMS pre-configuration) and market examples such as ERCOT and emerging European markets; no specific monetary investments or timelines were provided.
• Jan 6, 2026

  Ohio EPA reviewing data center discharge permits amid water quality concerns

  The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing a proposal to issue five-year permits allowing eligible data centers to discharge cooling water into Ohio’s lakes and streams.

  • Main action: The draft would allow eligible data centers to obtain five-year permits to release cooling water; the permit text includes a ban on discharges within 500 yards upstream of a public water intake, prohibits discharges into groundwater and lakes other than Lake Erie, and uses standard NPDES “lowering” language for new or expanded discharges. The article states a single data center can use up to half a billion gallons of water daily for cooling.
  • Background and details:Environmental groups (Ohio Valley Environmental Group, Ohio River Foundation) raise concerns about PFAS contamination and limited capacity at rural treatment centers to filter contaminants; the Ohio EPA responded that permits include strict limits and monitoring and that data centers are not expected to be PFAS sources. The piece notes H2Ohio does not set discharge rules, mentions Bloom Energy as an alternative technology, and provides a public comment link (https://ohioepa.commentinput.com/?id=csDN8pRrg).
• Jan 6, 2026

  Data Center Jobs: Engineering, Construction, Commissioning, Sales, Field Service and Facility Tech Jobs Available in Major Data Center Hotspots

  Data Center Frontier, in partnership with Pkaza Critical Facilities Recruiting, published a monthly roundup of current data center job openings on its jobs board.

  • Monthly jobs roundup: The post lists roughly 15–18 open roles (examples: Data Center Facility Technician, Electrical Commissioning Engineer, Construction Project Manager, Senior Electrical Engineer, Production Architect, Strategic Sales Account Manager, Mechanical Engineer, Site Selection Manager/Director/VP, Electrical Project Manager, Electrical Superintendent, Project Executive, MEP Construction Project Manager, Mechanical Commissioning Engineer, Engineering Design Director, Navy Nuke Facility Technician) with locations across the United States including Impact, TX; Ashburn, VA; Dallas, TX; Atlanta, GA; Reading, PA; Allentown, PA; Charlotte, NC; New Albany, OH; Lyndhurst, NJ; Boulder, CO; Richmond, VA; Austin, TX.
  • Role and employer context: Positions are listed with mission-critical data center providers, engineering design and commissioning firms, A/E/C architecture firms, equipment rental providers, electrical contractors and general contractors; listings repeatedly cite energy efficiency, sustainable design, and AI infrastructure support, and several technician roles explicitly note acceptance of Navy Nuke / military veterans.
• Jan 5, 2026

  Eight Trends That Will Shape the Data Center Industry in 2026

  Data Center Frontier (Matt Vincent) publishes a 2026 forecast outlining eight trends that reposition AI-driven power, cooling, site selection, and capital discipline as the central constraints for data center development.

  • Main announcement/action: The piece presents eight defining trends for 2026 that—collectively—argue AI factories and general‑purpose data centers are distinct classes; AI factories will routinely plan for hundreds of megawatts of firm power, push onsite generation (near‑term: natural gas, mid/long term: nuclear/SMRs), and require liquid cooling, standardized modular designs, and utility co‑architecture to meet compressed timelines.
  • Background and details: The article documents a shift toward power co‑design with utilities, greater capital discipline (phased campuses, modular delivery, optional expansion), and operational emphasis on reuse, volatility planning, and O&M; it cites analysis from CBRE, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield, Reuters and coverage in The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Bloomberg as context (timeline: trends framed for 2026).
• Jan 4, 2026

  Big Tech's Expanding Plans for Data Centers are Running into Stiff Community Opposition

  Associated Press reports tech companies and developers increasingly losing local fights over data center projects.

  • Main announcement: Data Center Watch (a project of 10a Labs) counted 20 proposals valued at $98 billion in 11 states that were blocked or delayed between April and June, representing two-thirds of the projects it was tracking; the article notes major firms (Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Facebook) are collectively spending “hundreds of billions of dollars” on data centers globally.
  • Background and details: Community opposition is driven by concerns about energy use, water consumption, zoning, and loss of open space/farmland; local examples include East Vincent Township (Larry Shank), Matthews, NC (Mayor John Higdon: “999 to one against”), and Hermantown/Duluth, MN (Mortenson developing for an unnamed Fortune 50 company — Mortenson says it is considering changes). Developers and industry sources (Maxx Kossof, Dan Diorio) report zoning defeats, the prospect of selling sites after securing power, and calls for earlier community engagement.
• Jan 3, 2026

  Big Tech’s fast-expanding plans for data centers are running into stiff community opposition

  Communities across the United States are increasingly blocking or delaying proposed data centers intended to serve AI and cloud computing workloads.

  • Major local defeats and delays: Data Center Watch (a project of 10a Labs) counted 20 proposals valued at $98 billion across 11 states that were blocked or delayed between April and June; opponents have also forced rezoning losses in states such as Indiana and pulled projects from city agendas (e.g., Matthews, NC). The article cites Microsoft’s securities filing acknowledging “community opposition, local moratoriums, and hyper-local dissent” as operational risks.
  • Project and developer details / background: Developers and trade groups such as The Missner Group, JLL, Mortenson, and the Data Center Coalition are adjusting strategy—considering selling power-secured sites or increasing early community engagement; one Mortenson project in Minnesota is on hold after internal emails revealed officials knew of the plan a year before public disclosure, and a Matthews, NC proposal reportedly would have funded half the city’s budget.
• 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.
• Jan 2, 2026

  Transformers in 2026: Shortage, Scramble, or Self-Inflicted Crisis?

  Wood Mackenzie and POWER report that U.S. transformer supply remains structurally out of balance, with multi-year deficits in large power and generator step-up units even as manufacturers commit major North American investments.

  • Main findings and actions:Wood Mackenzie estimates a 30% shortfall for power transformers and 10% for distribution units in 2025, with demand increases since 2019 of 119% for power transformers and 274% for GSUs; lead times average 128 weeks for power transformers and 144 weeks for GSUs. Despite nearly $1.8 billion–$2.0 billion in announced North American manufacturing investments since 2023, major corporate commitments include Hitachi Energy (over $1 billion continental, CA$270 million Varennes expansion, $457 million South Boston, VA project due by 2028, $106 million Alamo, TN expansion), Siemens Energy ($150 million Charlotte plant, production targeted early 2027), Eaton ($340 million South Carolina facility targeting 2027), Prolec GE (more than $300 million), Virginia Transformer Corp. ($40 million), ERMCO (>$70 million), and Central Moloney ($50 million). Unit prices have also climbed: power transformers +77%, GSUs +45%, some distribution up to 95%.

  • Background, policy, and procurement details: Federal trade measures (copper tariffs up to 50%, expanded Section 232 steel/aluminum duties) and the budget package nicknamed “One Big Beautiful Bill” (phasing down some renewables credits and tightening FEOC rules) have raised input costs and domestic‑content constraints; federal/state incentives and site support are driving reshoring to Virginia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and elsewhere. Counterpoints include broker Patrick Tarver of Bolt Electrical LLC, who argues “There is not a shortage” and attributes delays to utility/EPC procurement practices (qualification lists, vendor rules) rather than factory capacity; Tarver says he can deliver standard substation transformers in 12 to 14 months and typically charges 12%–15% over factory cost.

• Jan 2, 2026

  Meeting the Moment: Industry Leaders Chart the Course for Power in 2026

  POWER’s executive editor Aaron Larson compiles industry leaders’ perspectives on the power sector outlook for 2026, highlighting AI, data‑center demand, solar growth, supply‑chain constraints, and regulatory changes such as FEOC.

  • Main announcement/action: Industry leaders describe 2026 as a pivotal year where AI integration into grid management and data center-driven load growth will force planning for gigawatts of new capacity; examples and concrete figures cited include the Hale Kuawehi Solar and Battery Project reaching commercial operations on March 25, 2025 (30 MW PV + 30 MW/120 MWh storage), the IEA projection of ~3.68 TW of solar capacity added by 2030, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 2028 data‑center energy projections of ~325–580 TWh under different scenarios.
  • Background and specific details: The article documents regulatory and supply‑chain constraints including FEOC rules restricting tax credits for projects with covered‑nation links (China, Russia, North Korea, Iran); notable investments and timelines cited include National Grid investing £35 billion over the next six years to strengthen supply chains in England and Wales, Dominion Energy spending $2.1 billion on transmission in the prior year and planning >$2.8 billion annually starting in 2027, and Siemens Energy investing about €220 million (Sept 2025) in Nuremberg and $150 million in 2024 in Charlotte. It also notes the DeepSeek R1 release in 2025 as a pivotal event influencing data‑center power demand forecasts.