Nebraska Data Center News

Jun 3, 2026 · Google

Google’s water stewardship commitments for local communities

Google is announcing new water stewardship commitments to responsibly manage water at its data centers and to replenish more water than it consumes by 2030.

Main announcement: Google commits to replenish more water than it consumes at its sites by 2030, listing five specific commitments (replenishment ambition, infrastructure modernization, air-cooled solutions for at-risk watersheds, transparent annual reporting, and pursuing reclaimed water). In 2025 Google replenished more than 7 billion gallons, currently manages 165 water stewardship projects across 97 watersheds, and states that projects (once fully implemented) are expected to replenish more than 19 billion gallons annually by 2030. Google is also evaluating more than 700 projects submitted to its Water Replenishment RFI.
Background and implementation details: Google says it has committed over $500 million to water, wastewater and water reuse infrastructure to date and is announcing $17 million in support of new projects across seven U.S. states (Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas). Example partners/actions include Ducks Unlimited (wetlands enhancement, Flint River WMA), The Great Outdoors Foundation + Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (convert 5,000 acres to perennial systems), Huron River Watershed Council (expand green infrastructure), Trust for Public Land (restore 84 acres of floodplain forest), and local utility programs such as Metropolitan Utilities District’s leak detection; many projects are ongoing and repayment/implementation timelines target completion/increase in replenishment by 2030.

Jun 1, 2026 · Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

Targeted Pressure: How Chinese Manufacturing Competition Impacts US States

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) has published a report finding Chinese industrial policy is reshaping global manufacturing and harming industries across every U.S. state.

Main finding & method: The ITIF report (June 1, 2026) analyzes one “national power industry” per state using County Business Patterns employment data, HS/SITC export proxies, and global market-share series to conclude that state-backed Chinese subsidies, export pushes, and overcapacity are driving down prices and pressuring U.S. producers in sectors such as semiconductors, batteries, aircraft, and fabricated metals.
Key facts, numbers, and timelines:China plans ~$150 billion in semiconductor investment through 2030 vs. $52 billion under the U.S. CHIPS funding; the report cites $63.3 billion Chinese semiconductor spending in H1 2025, TSMC’s $165 billion U.S. investment announcement, GE Appliances’ $490 million Appliance Park investment (2025), and state/national export shares and HS-code trade series used throughout the analyses.

May 26, 2026

Amazon, Two Local ISPs Back Out of BEAD in Nebraska

The Nebraska Broadband Office has announced it is reopening bidding for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Reopening action: The Nebraska Broadband Office (NBO) will reopen bidding after some tentative grant winners refused to sign contracts; NBO said it will publish a new map outlining 1,735 remaining eligible locationsin the coming weeks.
Process and goals: NBO said the new round aims to promote competition between internet providers with a focus on quality and end-user experience; the announcement was made in a Friday release and includes a public map update timeline (coming weeks).

May 22, 2026

Great Plains Communications to Acquire Fastwyre Broadband’s Nebraska Holdings

Great Plains Communications has agreed to acquire Fastwyre Broadband’s Nebraska holdings.

Acquisition details: GPC will acquire Fastwyre’s operations in more than two dozen Nebraska communities, providing current Fastwyre customers access to GPC technicians and call centers, expanded service options, and future network upgrades; customers will also gain access to GPC’s MEF-certified 20,000+ mile fiber network.
Integration and background: GPC will gradually upgrade and integrate Fastwyre into its existing network, will assimilate two dozen employees and Fastwyre customers into GPC services, and cited its financial strength and history of serving Nebraska for 115 years as context; the announcement does not disclose a purchase price or specific timeline beyond a gradual integration.

May 20, 2026

Climate Change Solutions - May 19, 2026

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) published its “Climate Change Solutions” newsletter summarizing recent policy updates, events, and briefings.

Main announcements: EESI highlights the release of text for the BUILD America 250 Act by Rep. Sam Graves and Rep. Rick Larsen to reinvest in roadways, public transportation, freight rail, and bridges; the newsletter also reports that the President signed S.1020 (P.L.119-90) extending hydropower construction deadlines. Names and bill identifiers: Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), S.1020 / P.L.119-90.
Background and related actions: The newsletter summarizes congressional activity including H.R.1346 (Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025) on E15 biofuel sales, advancement of the SECURE Grid Act (H.R.7257), and the IOOS Reauthorization Act (S.2126 / H.R.2294); it also promotes EXPO 2026 (June 24, Rayburn House Office Building 2168, 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., online option) and references EESI briefings and media coverage on data center water use and noise pollution.

May 19, 2026

BEAD Non-Deployment Funds Could Fund Precision Ag. States Are Still Waiting to Find Out

Fiber operators and agricultural technology advocates at Fiber Connect argued that closing the precision agriculture gap requires a subsidized service model, a federal funding framework, and an education pipeline, with county agricultural extension offices as a distribution channel.

Main announcement/action: Panelists including Josh Etheridge (EPC), Kevin Driscoll (Netceed), Chris Crowe (t3 Broadband), and Thomas Tyler (C207 Partners) urged that connectivity alone is insufficient and called for subsidized managed services, explicit federal guidance for using non-deployment BEAD funds, and partnerships with county agricultural extension offices to deliver training and equipment access.
Background and details: The session (Orlando, May 18, 2026) highlighted that 86% of U.S. farms are family-owned and many earn under $350,000/year, that about $22 billion in BEAD non-deployment funds remain without federal guidance, and recommended connecting state broadband offices, state departments of agriculture, and ag extension offices to implement precision-ag programs.

May 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, has posted the latest data center job listings on its jobs board.

Monthly job roundup: The post lists multiple open roles including Power Applications Engineer, Electrical Commissioning Engineer, Power Systems Sales Implementation Engineer, Architect Design Manager (CSA), Electrical Project Manager, Commissioning Project Manager, MEP Superintendent, Director of Data Center Facility Operations, Project Executive (Owner’s Rep), EHS Director, Mechanical Commissioning Lead, Mechanical Controls Engineer, Director of Project Deliverables, and Senior Electrical Engineer across numerous U.S. locations (examples: Pittsburgh, PA; New Albany, OH; Raleigh, NC; Dallas, TX; Charlotte, NC; Chesterton, IN; Denver, CO; New York, NY; Totowa, NJ), with many roles offering remote or multi-city travel options.
Client and role context: Positions are with mission-critical data center developers, engineering design and commissioning firms, electrical contracting firms, general contractors, and digital infrastructure firms; job descriptions emphasize reliability, energy efficiency, sustainable design, and LEED expertise, and note career-growth opportunities, competitive salaries and benefits. Many listings reference travel requirements and alternative available locations for implementation timelines (immediate hiring/use by clients), but no specific salary or funding amounts are disclosed.

Apr 27, 2026

Residents left furious as their picturesque small town surrounded by forests and nature is set to be 'ruined' by sprawling data centers... but they're refusing to back down

Cornell Realty Management has applied to develop the Wildcat Ridge AI Data Center and multiple developers are preparing to build several large data centres in Archbald, Pennsylvania.

Project scope & developer action: Cornell Realty Management applied for the Wildcat Ridge AI Data Center campus (14 centres across 400 acres) and other proposals could see 51 data warehouses built on ~14% of Archbald’s land; developers claim the campus would be at least 1,500 feet from homes, create 1,280 jobs, be as quiet as a ‘normal conversation’, and use about 50,000 gallons of water a day.
Permitting, finances & community response: Developers state the project would generate $7 million in annual borough tax revenue and $23 million for the school system; residents and local officials (including Mayor Shirley Barrett) are actively opposing the plans via a Stop Archbald Data Centers Facebook group (~10,000 members) and council meetings. Additional state and local permits are required and construction could still take months to years to begin even if local approvals advance.

Apr 8, 2026

Wisconsin Town Votes to Restrict Tax Incentives for OpenAI Data Center

Residents of Port Washington passed a referendum restricting city officials from granting tax incentives for large projects without voter approval.

Main announcement: The referendum requires voter approval before city leaders may offer tax incentives for any future development project valued at more than $10 million; the measure passed with 2,710 votes in favor and 1,371 opposed (more than 50% of 8,257 registered voters participated).
Context and details: The vote was triggered by plans for a proposed $15 billion data center campus tied to the Stargate project (a reported $500 billion national AI infrastructure initiative led by OpenAI and SoftBank); Oracle said the proposed campus would contribute $175 million toward local infrastructure upgrades and estimate 4,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent positions.

Apr 2, 2026

States Race to Win the Tech Economy in 2026 State of the State Addresses

Broadband and technology were prioritized across nearly 30 governors’ 2026 State of the State addresses.

Main announcement: Governors across the country emphasized broadband expansion, AI policy and workforce development, and data center/energy planning; specific claims include Maine reporting “more than a quarter million homes and businesses” served, Wisconsin reporting 410,000 businesses and households with new or improved internet, Kansas connecting 117,000 households and businesses, and the Virgin Islands reporting a territory-wide internet program with over 50,000 users per month. The addresses also included concrete funding and contract figures: Maryland announced a $4 million AI workforce training investment, and South Dakota cited a $35 million Department of Defense contract for warhead production.
Background and other details: Governors described partnerships and policy actions: Maryland cited collaborations with Bloomberg Philanthropies, Microsoft, a South Korean biotech firm, and AstraZeneca for AI work; Iowa cited partnerships with Amazon Web Services and Google Public Sector to modernize state systems; several governors (Indiana, New York, Nebraska) debated who should shoulder data center energy costs or accelerate permitting; some states (New Hampshire, Delaware, South Carolina) signaled nuclear energy pathways and DOE engagement. Implementation timelines are those stated in addresses (2026) and referenced ongoing programs and contracts (e.g., South Dakota’s $35 million DoD contract already awarded).

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