Tennessee Data Center Intel

Recent Tennessee data center news

• Jan 9, 2026

  Mississippi Lands $20B xAI Data Centre: Jobs Surge but Pollution Fears Grow

  The State of Mississippi announced a major investment: xAI will build a $20 billion data centre hub in Southaven, DeSoto County, as part of its Macrohard supercomputing initiative.

  • Project details: xAI is investing $20 billion (£14.89 billion) to build a Macrohard/MACROHARDRR site in Southaven (DeSoto County) intended to be part of infrastructure supporting ‘the world’s largest supercomputer’ with 2 gigawatts of processing capacity; xAI trademarked Macrohard (filed 1 August 2025). The governor said the site is expected to be operational within the coming month and credited the deal with creating hundreds of long-term jobs plus thousands of contractor jobs.
  • Background, incentives and local response: The project benefits from tax breaks approved in 2024 (exempting sales, franchise and corporate income taxes on the site and heavily reduced property tax rates approved by Southaven and DeSoto County). Local opposition includes the Safe and Sound Coalition (petition >900 signatures), and concerns from the NAACP and Southern Environmental Law Center about fumes and impacts on nearby predominantly Black neighbourhoods; the Mississippi Development Authority provided no immediate public estimate of the cost to the public purse.
• Jan 7, 2026

  The Last Word: HGP Intelligent Energy’s CEO on Repurposing Navy Nuclear Reactors for AI Data Centers

  HGP Intelligent Energy has proposed repurposing the USS Nimitz’s two Westinghouse A4W naval reactors to power land-based AI data centers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and has asked the Department of Energy to transfer the reactors once the carrier is decommissioned.

  • Project scope and financing: HGP estimates the buildout would require up to $2.1 billion in private capital and cites estimated infrastructure costs of $1 million to $4 million per megawatt; the company plans to apply for a Department of Energy loan guarantee and has filed a letter with the White House’s Genesis Mission Office.
  • Technical and contextual details: The reactors are Westinghouse A4W naval fission pressurized water systems from the USS Nimitz (commissioned May 1975; recently returned to Bremerton, Wash. after final deployment); media reports note reactors were built by Westinghouse and General Electric, are designed for long operational lifetimes, and Oak Ridge is the proposed siting location for the land-based AI data centers.
• Jan 6, 2026 · IT Brief Asia

  AMD unveils yotta-scale AI roadmap & USD $150m pledge

  AMD announced a broad AI hardware and education commitment at CES 2026, unveiling the rack-scale “Helios” blueprint for what it calls “yotta-scale” computing and pledging USD $150 million to expand AI education and community programs.

  • Main announcement and products: AMD introduced the Helios rack-scale platform (single rack up to 3 AI exaflops), disclosed the full Instinct MI400 Series and previewed MI500 Series GPUs (target launch 2027, internal claim of up to 1,000x AI performance vs MI300X), and expanded client and edge offerings with Ryzen AI 400 Series / PRO 400 Series, Ryzen AI Max+ 392 / 388, and Ryzen AI Embedded P100 and X100. Key timelines: first devices ship January 2026, broader OEM availability Q1 2026, and Ryzen AI Halo developer systems expected Q2 2026.
  • Background, partners and deployments: AMD highlighted collaborations with OpenAI, Luma AI, Liquid AI, World Labs, Blue Origin, Generative Bionics, AstraZeneca, Absci, Illumina, and public-sector supercomputing programs including the US Genesis Mission (two AMD-based supercomputers at Oak Ridge National Labouratory: Lux and Discovery) and the French Alice Recoque exascale system. The USD $150 million commitment targets classrooms and community programs and follows AMD-run initiatives such as the AMD AI Robotics Hackathon with 15,000 participating student innovators (in partnership with Hack Club).
• Jan 6, 2026

  Prakash elevated to IEEE senior member, recognizing data system expertise

  Giri Prakash has been elevated to senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

  • Elevation details: Giri Prakash, lead for the Earth System Informatics and Data Discovery Section at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), has been elevated to IEEE Senior Member (the highest professional IEEE grade). Only 10 percent of IEEE’s nearly half a million members hold this grade. Prakash also serves as chief data and computing officer for the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Facility (a DOE Office of Science user facility).
  • Background and role specifics: Prakash has 24 years of experience in scientific data management and leads design and operation of large-scale scientific data systems and large data centers, including applying FAIR data principles and enabling open science by adapting artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities in scientific data center operations. Media contact: Kimberly A Askey, Communications Lead, Biological and Environmental Systems Science Directorate; phone 865.576.2841; email ASKEYKA@ORNL.GOV.
• Jan 6, 2026

  The AI Energy Gold Rush: Aeroderivative Turbines and Other Creative Bridging Power Sources

  US data center developers are increasingly deploying on-site and repurposed generation assets, including jet engines and imported power plants, to meet accelerating AI electricity demand.

  • Main action: Developers are adopting fast-start, behind-the-meter generation such as repurposed jet engines (from Boeing 747, 767, Airbus A310 fleets), aeroderivative turbines, rapid-install LNG microplants, and even entire imported power plants (reported by Elon Musk/xAI for Memphis). IEEE Spectrum reports conversions can produce 48MW of fast-start capacity; these solutions are being used as short-term capacity while grid expansion and interconnection proceed.
  • Background and details: The IEA reports US data centers consumed 183 TWh in 2024 and projects 426 TWh by 2030 (a 133% increase). In 2024 the US data center energy mix was roughly natural gas 40%, renewables 24%, nuclear 20%, coal 15%. Fast-deploy assets trade speed for efficiency (simple-cycle/aeroderivative units lack heat recovery, often rely on diesel or trucked gas, and may require SCR for NOx); opportunities include pressure- and heat-to-power recovery (turboexpanders) and hybrid stacks combining PPAs, storage, modular thermal systems, and recovered-energy technologies.
• Jan 6, 2026

  The top AMD stories of 2025

  AMD announced a series of product launches, partnerships, acquisitions and infrastructure deals in 2025 to boost AI performance across desktops, mobile, data centers and supercomputers.

  • Main announcement: AMD rolled out multiple AI-focused products and deals in 2025 including the Pensando Pollara 400GbE Ultra Ethernet-compliant NIC (announced June), Instinct MI350 accelerators and rack-scale platform (June), Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 WX-Series (Computex, May), EPYC 4005 processors (May), and the acquisition of AI software startup Brium (June). It also struck a 6-gigawatt agreement with OpenAI (first 1 GW deployment of MI450 GPUs set to begin in H2 2026) and announced collaboration with the U.S. DOE to build two more supercomputers at ORNL (Lux AI and Discovery).
  • Background and additional details: AMD and Saudi-backed Humain signed a $10 billion deal to develop AMD-based AI data centers spanning Saudi Arabia to the U.S.; Lux AI and Discovery represent a combined $1 billion public/private investment; other items include security microcode patches (Feb), a Meltdown/Spectre-like alert (July), DigitalOcean GPU Droplets partnership (June), and IBM collaboration on hybrid quantum-classical computing (Aug). Timelines: OpenAI 1 GW deployment in second half of 2026, HPE GX5000 system unlikely available until 2027, ORNL supercomputers planned to join existing systems “in the next few years.”
• Jan 3, 2026

  ‘Just an unbelievable amount of pollution’: how big a threat is AI to the climate?

  The Guardian reports on the climate risks posed by the AI boom and rapid datacentre expansion, highlighting methane releases, rising electricity demand and policy calls for moratoria or regulation.

  • Main announcement/action: The article documents direct observations and expert analysis showing datacentre-driven pollution (e.g., Sharon Wilson’s thermal imaging of xAI’s Colossus suggesting large methane releases), Ireland’s datacentres consuming one-fifth of national electricity (projected to near one-third), and IEA/BloombergNEF projections that datacentre electricity demand could grow substantially; it also notes a $625m (£467m) investment package announced by US energy secretary Chris Wright.
  • Background and details: The piece cites IEA and LSE/Systemiq studies that model both risks and potential emissions savings from AI, references calls for a moratorium by the UN special rapporteur and a US environmental coalition of more than 230 groups, and records corporate and sectoral actions (e.g., Google, Microsoft, Saudi Aramco, and utility rules in Ireland requiring 80% of a datacentre’s consumption to come from new renewables over time).
• 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.

• Dec 30, 2025

  Scorecard: Looking Back at Data Center Frontier’s 2025 Industry Predictions

  Data Center Frontier published a 2025 scorecard grading eight data center industry trends and issued verdicts on each, emphasizing that power, cooling, and utility coordination dominated what shaped the industry in 2025.

  • Main announcement: Data Center Frontier released a year-end scorecard evaluating eight core trends with graded verdicts (e.g., “VERDICT: MASSIVE HIT” for power constraints and hyperscale megacampuses; “VERDICT: STRONG HIT” for natural gas bridging supply). The article cites specific figures and deals including estimates that U.S. data center energy use could reach up to 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028 (Congressional Research Service), a reported $120+ billion of AI data center spending shifted off balance sheets (Financial Times), and Alphabet’s $4.75 billion acquisition of Intersect Power to align energy and compute deployment timelines.
  • Background and details: The piece documents operational shifts in 2025—liquid direct-to-chip cooling moved to baseline design assumptions (TrendForce: DLC adoption ~33% in 2025), natural gas and behind-the-meter generation emerged as fast-to-deploy reliability options (ExxonMobil’s 1.5-GW plant plans and CCS pairing), and quantum and immersion cooling progressed technically but remained “Too Early” for broad adoption. It also notes concrete geographic and market examples (record-low primary market vacancy at 1.6% per CBRE; secondary market growth in Central Ohio, Indiana, Louisiana, Utah, Colorado, North Carolina, Tennessee).
• Dec 30, 2025

  Environment and health in New Mexico: top stories of 2025

  Source NM published a roundup of New Mexico’s top environment and health stories of 2025, highlighting PFAS contamination, a measles outbreak, federal land policy shifts, inclusion of New Mexican downwinders in RECA, data center development impacts, and groundwater toxic metals.

  • Main coverage: Source NM summarized key 2025 actions: PFAS regulation efforts (EPA 2029 deadline for public water systems; NM Environment Department proposed PFAS rules to the Environmental Improvement Board with public hearings potentially as early as February), RECA expansion that now includes New Mexican downwinders with an application deadline Dec. 31, 2027 and an online portal the Department of Justice expects by year-end, and Project Jupiter — Doña Ana County approved $165 billion in bonds for a large data center campus that has applied for permits to build natural gas generating stations and was told the permit applications were “incomplete” and given until Jan. 19 to provide more information.
  • Background and other details: The piece also reports a measles outbreak with more than 100 cases over six months (outbreak ended in September), discovery of toxic metals (antimony, arsenic, uranium) in Mora County groundwater potentially linked to Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire-suppression foam with approximately $2 billion remaining in federal compensation funds under consideration, and federal land policy shifts (USDA roadless rule consultation; Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s comments on the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule) with New Mexico leaders urging protection around Chaco Culture National Historical Park.