New York Data Center Intel

Recent New York data center news

• May 5, 2026

  Thermal Energy Networks Turn Data Center Waste Heat into a Hot Commodity

  Author Aastha Singh presents an analysis promoting Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) to capture and reuse waste heat from data centers across U.S. communities.

  • Main proposal: The article urges adoption of Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) and district heating to capture waste heat from data center cooling and deliver it to nearby buildings; it cites concrete examples (Stockholm, Mäntsälä, Tallaght, Equinix PA10 in Paris) and quantifies benefits such as avoiding construction of 54 new power plants and $22.1 billion in building-cost savings.
  • Policy and implementation details: It documents current policy moves (Virginia HB323 as the first U.S. waste-heat reuse bill), federal legislative activity (S.4213 Data Center Water and Energy Transparency Act introduced March 2026), and recommends actions including DOE pilot grants, expedited permitting, and energy/resource-intensity standards for data centers.
• May 5, 2026

  Meet the academics refusing to use generative AI

  Several researchers have announced they are abstaining from using generative AI tools.

  • Main action: Several individual researchers (including Danielle Crowley at Bangor University, Hugh Possingham at the University of Queensland, Audrey Moores at McGill University, Tanisha Jowsey at Bond University, Juan Rocha at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, Michaela Socolof at MIT and Elizabeth Wolkovich at the University of British Columbia) say they are purposefully abstaining from using generative AI because of concerns about copyright/consent, transparency of training data, accuracy/hallucinations, and environmental impacts; some have adopted explicit policies (for example, Wolkovich will not chair defences or join committees where students use genAI for writing).
  • Background and evidence: Surveys and studies cited include a Nature survey of ~5,000 researchers showing high acceptance for AI editing but far lower use for text generation, an Elsevier survey of 3,234 researchers reporting 58% use of AI, and a Patterns study estimating 2025 global AI system footprints of 32.6–79.7 million tonnes CO2 and 312.5–764.6 billion litres of water; other factual details include specific examples of AI errors (hallucinated citations and incorrect molecular depictions) and published commentaries calling for restrictions on genAI in chemistry and qualitative research.
• May 4, 2026

  Naidu Welcomes Environmental Disaster to Andhra – Screw That

  Chandrababu Naidu has invited AI data center projects into Andhra Pradesh, an action the article frames as a new and direct government push to host large-scale AI facilities.

  • Main action:Chandrababu Naidu is portrayed as signing deals/inviting AI data centers to Andhra Pradesh; the piece claims these facilities raise local temperatures by ~3.6°F on average, consume large water resources for cooling, and threaten wildlife, farmland and local water supplies.
  • Context and format: This is an opinion/criticism article (authored by SIBY JEYYA, 04/05/2026) arguing the projects primarily benefit global tech giants/billionaire backers while imposing higher power bills, water shortages, and heat-island effects on local communities. No specific companies, contract values, or implementation timelines are provided in the article.
• May 3, 2026

  Energy group asks Congress to investigate potentially foreign-backed campaigns against AI data centers

  Power the Future has asked Congress to open formal investigations into funding it alleges is incentivizing nonprofits and local groups to oppose data center and AI projects.

  • Requested action: Power the Future sent a letter to Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) asking committees to open formal investigations into what it describes as a “coordinated, billionaire-funded, and potentially foreign-backed political campaign” to block construction of data center and AI infrastructure. The group reports 188 local opposition groups across 24 states and cites grant reporting that New Venture Fund, the Sierra Club Foundation and the Sixteen Thirty Fund collectively received over $13 million from pro-environmental donors.
  • Background/details: The letter raises concerns that U.S. nonprofit donor disclosure laws can shield donors from public disclosure; it names environmental organizations (Sierra Club, Food and Water Watch, Earthjustice, Goods Jobs First, Piedmont Environmental Council, Southern Environmental Law Center, MediaJustice, Athena Coalition) as recipients of funding they say has been spent opposing data center expansions. Power the Future founder Daniel Turner acknowledges some legitimate local concerns but urges scrutiny of the scale and source of funding. The letter quotes Interior Secretary Doug Burgum calling opposition a “surrender” to China. No formal investigation timeline is provided in the article.
• May 1, 2026

  No sign that AI is cooling leasing demand: JLL

  JLL reported its Q1 earnings and said AI adoption and new data center wins are driving leasing and project management growth.

  • Main announcement: JLL announced Q1 financial results showing growth in real estate management services and leasing, driven by workplace and project management strength and data center wins; specific performance cited includes 7% year-over-year office leasing volume growth in North America, 17% increase in North America industrial gross leasing revenue, and double-digit project management revenue growth in the U.S. The results and commentary were provided in the company’s Q1 earnings release and analyst call.
  • Additional details & context: Management said 75% AI adoption across core enablement products, with 25,000 employees using enterprise AI applications daily and a 60% year-over-year increase in usage; workplace management growth was high-single-digit and project management growth was double-digit (U.S.). The company noted office vacancy at 16.8% globally and that its leasing pipeline is second-half weighted; management also stated there has been no material impact to date from the Middle East conflict but it is taking a conservative approach to leverage.
• 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 30, 2026

  VOICES: Detroit can lead the nation on climate justice — if we put people first

  A Detroit environmental advocate has proposed expanding the city’s Office of Sustainability into an Office of Climate, Infrastructure, and Sustainability and creating a chief climate officer who reports directly to Mayor Mary Sheffield.

  • Main proposal: Expand Detroit’s existing Office of Sustainability into an Office of Climate, Infrastructure, and Sustainability led by a chief climate officer reporting directly to the mayor; establish a Climate Justice Community Advisory Board with one resident representative from each council district; direct departments with inspection/enforcement authority (Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental; Detroit Water & Sewerage Department; Detroit Police Department; Health Department) to prioritize enforcement against industrial polluters.
  • Context and implementation details: The author frames this as an opinion/agenda (not an official city announcement) informed by the Rise Higher Detroit survey and an Obama Foundation convening; recommends that many items could begin by mayoral executive order while others require partnership with City Council; calls for city land-use guardrails on data centers and an effective pause on city-owned land uses “until clear guardrails are in place for community benefit, energy demand, and rate impacts.”
• Apr 30, 2026

  Milbank’s Antitrust Team Publishes Article in CPI on DOJ’s Renewed Scrutiny of Energy and Digital Infrastructure Markets 

  The DOJ’s Antitrust Division filed a complaint and proposed consent decree requiring divestiture of six power plants to resolve concerns arising from Constellation Energy’s $26.6 billion acquisition of Calpine.

  • DOJ action and remedy: The Antitrust Division filed a complaint and proposed consent decree seeking divestiture of six power plants to address competitive concerns from Constellation Energy’s $26.6 billion acquisition of Calpine (December 2025). This is described as structural relief and the first time in almost 15 years the Division has sought such relief in a generation merger (since the 2011 Exelon/Constellation matter).
  • Article and analysis:Milbank LLP partners Adam Di Vincenzo and Fiona Schaeffer and associate John Ceccio authored an article in Competition Policy International analyzing implications for electricity markets and digital infrastructure (data centers), and advising dealmakers and M&A counsel in the energy and data center sectors. The article is hosted/copied on PYMNTS (link provided); access may require subscription.
• Apr 29, 2026

  Astound Suing Dish over Contract Fees

  Astound Broadband has filed an April 15, 2026 lawsuit seeking $1.7 million in contract cancellation fees from Dish.

  • Main action: Astound alleges $1.7 million in contract cancellation fees and says Dish’s invocation of force majeure is pretextual, arguing the decision was made at the EchoStar level; the suit (filed April 15) says Astound provided fiber transport services since 2022.
  • Background & context: EchoStar sold much of its spectrum to AT&T and SpaceX for $42.6 billion last year; Dish/EchoStar argue FCC pressure in summer 2025 forced sales (EchoStar’s April 13 motion), Dish is seeking to consolidate multiple federal cases (seven pending before Astound’s filing), and Comcast has a separate suit seeking $54 million.
• Apr 29, 2026

  Student-Led Panel Confronts AI’s Growing Need for Energy

  Students in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) at Stony Brook University hosted a panel titled “AI and Sustainability: Can AI’s Energy Demands Be Sustained?” on April 27 in the Sidney Gelber Auditorium.

  • Event organization and participants: The event was created and organized by students in SoMAS through the SUS 401 capstone course taught by Senior Lecturer Tara Rider; panelists were Hendrik Hamann (Professor of Atmospheric Sciences; AI chief scientist, Brookhaven National Laboratory), Nina Kshetry (President, Ensaras), and Aaron Miller (Eastern Regional Manager, SHARC Energy).

    • Date: April 27, 2026
    • Location: Sidney Gelber Auditorium, Stony Brook University

  • Content and key facts presented: Panelists discussed the energy, water and infrastructure demands of AI and data centers, including technical and operational responses such as wastewater energy recovery and heat reuse; speakers emphasized that solutions require coordination of technology, policy, economics and community impact and highlighted workforce and domain expertise needs.