Wisconsin Data Center Intel

Recent Wisconsin data center news

• Oct 2, 2025

  Microsoft Bets $33B on Neoclouds to Ease AI Crunch

  Microsoft announced a major capacity deal with neocloud Nebius to source AI computing power as part of a broader neocloud strategy.

  • Main action: Microsoft agreed a deal with Nebius Group worth up to $19.4 billion (outlined Sept. 8) to access computing capacity including more than 100,000 Nvidia GB300 chips, enabling Microsoft to run internal large-language-model training and a consumer AI assistant at neocloud facilities and free its own servers to sell AI services. This is part of more than $33 billion in commitments Microsoft has made to neocloud providers (including CoreWeave, Nscale, Lambda).
  • Background and implementation details: The move addresses tight AI data-center capacity and gives Microsoft financial flexibility by shifting some costs to operational expenses (per Bernstein analyst Mark Moerdler). Microsoft continues in-house expansion (announced a second phase at its Racine, Wisconsin site to bring utility power capacity to at least 900 megawatts). Deals include regional arrangements (e.g., Nscale for the UK and Norway) and earlier capacity rentals (e.g., Oracle for an AI-infused Bing).
• Sep 27, 2025

  Private equity sees profits in power utilities as electric bills rise and big tech seeks more energy

  BlackRock subsidiary and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board have proposed buying Allete, parent of Minnesota Power; the deal faces regulatory review by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission with a potential Oct. 3 vote.

  • Main announcement: A BlackRock subsidiary and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board have proposed a buyout of Allete (parent of Minnesota Power) for $6.2 billion (including $67 a share, a 19% premium). The deal impacts a utility serving ~150,000 customers, could influence whether Google builds a data center in the region, and is scheduled for a possible Oct. 3 vote by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Allete projects it will need $4.3 billion for transmission and clean energy projects over five years and says the buyout will not affect electric rates.
  • Background and other details: Private equity and infrastructure investors (including Blackstone) are pursuing multiple utility transactions (eg: bids for Public Service Company of New Mexico and Texas New Mexico Power Co; earlier sales in Wisconsin and a 19.9% stake sale in Northern Indiana). An administrative law judge (Megan J. McKenzie) recommended rejecting the Allete deal, and commission staff warned private investors could leverage the utility with debt to capture higher regulated returns. Opponents (eg: Energy and Policy Institute, state attorney general) cite risks of higher rates; supporters include building trades unions and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s administration.
• Sep 22, 2025

  The FDI shake-up: How foreign direct investment today may shape industry and trade tomorrow

  MGI published a report analyzing announced greenfield FDI projects (2015–May 2025) and finds a decisive shift of announced investment toward future-shaping industries such as data centers (AI infrastructure), semiconductors, EVs/batteries, critical minerals, and low-emissions energy.

  • Main finding: The report analyzes roughly 180,000–200,000 announced greenfield FDI projects and shows that since 2022 ~75% of cross-border announcements target future-shaping industries and resources; announced annualized greenfield FDI rose from $1,137 billion (2015–19) to $1,407 billion (2022–May 2025), driven largely by megadeals (>$1 billion) that now account for about half of total announced value. Key sector details: data centers ≈ $170 billion/yr (since 2022; could reach >$370 billion if early-2025 pace continues), semiconductor-related ≈ $115 billion/yr to new fabs, low-emissions energy ≈ $330 billion/yr (three-quarters of energy announcements), and announced hydrogen ≈ $160 billion/yr (high uncertainty; few projects in construction).
  • Background and additional details: The shift is geopolitically patterned—advanced economies increased investments among themselves (US attracted large inflows, boosted by Advanced Asia investors), while announced inflows to China fell by nearly 70% relative to the earlier period. About 200 megadeals annually (≈1% of deals) drive most value; examples and specifics: TSMC accounted for roughly $100 billion of early-2025 US-directed announcements, the Calcasieu Parish LNG project cited at $17.5 billion, and several large EV/battery gigafactories with targeted openings in 2025–2026. The report emphasizes that announcements are not firm commitments (historical realization rates vary), cites 60–80% typical realization, and notes many hydrogen megaprojects have not reached construction.
• Sep 16, 2025

  Johnson Controls launches scalable coolant distribution unit for data centers

  Johnson Controls announced the Silent-Aire Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) platform expansion, delivering scalable liquid cooling for high-density data centers and AI hardware.

  • Main announcement: Johnson Controls introduced the Silent-Aire CDU platform scalable from 500 kW to 10 MW cooling capacity, supporting in-row deployments (500 kW–1,050 kW) and whitespace perimeter configurations (up to 10 MW); a 1-MW in-row data sheet shows 1,050 kW cooling on a 21 kW power draw using 25% propylene glycol, and the unit dimensions are 84” H x 35” W x 48” D.
  • Background and details: The company said the Silent-Aire solution — part of a stack that includes York chillers and M&M Carnot equipment — can reduce non-IT energy consumption by more than 50% in most North American data center hubs; the product is pitched to support rising rack densities (7 kW in 2021 to ~12 kW in early 2024, with hyperscale projections toward ~50 kW/rack by 2027) and to serve both edge-based inference sites and larger AI training facilities; Johnson Controls cited collaboration with hyperscale, colocation and semiconductor ecosystem partners, and VP/GM Austin Domenici provided the product statement.
• Jul 16, 2025

  Climate Change Solutions - July 15, 2025

  The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) recaps recent U.S. climate and energy policy developments, including new legislation, issue briefs, and upcoming events.

  • Reconciliation package (P.L. 119-21) signed into law on July 4, 2025, ending or curtailing tax incentives for energy efficiency, renewables, and electric vehicles.
  • Congressional committees advanced bills on algal bloom mitigation, precision agriculture, coastal data, and wildfire resilience; EESI published briefs on critical minerals, data center water use, and recapped 60 climate-related hearings from May-June 2025.
• Apr 17, 2025

  Schneider Electric debuts data center consulting service

• Apr 14, 2025

  Canary Media: Wisconsin Utility’s Data Center–Driven Gas Expansion Meets Skepticism

  Wisconsin Electric Power Co. (WEPCO) proposed building new gas generation to support a planned $3.3 billion Microsoft data center in Mount Pleasant. Concerns from customer and climate advocates have emerged regarding these investments and their necessity. Critics argue previous development plans have fallen short, raising questions about the reliability of projections for increased energy demand. Microsoft paused its construction to reassess the project scope in light of changing technology requirements.

• Apr 9, 2025

  Generac unveils high-capacity generator line for data centers

  Generac has introduced a new lineup of emergency stand-by generators designed for data centers, ranging from 2.25 MW to 3.25 MW. The company aims to expand its presence in the hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, and edge data center markets. According to a study by NEMA, the U.S. data centers are anticipated to see a 300% rise in energy consumption, highlighting the need for innovative energy solutions. Generac’s generators can integrate with renewable energy sources and energy storage systems, focusing on enhancing reliability and scalability.

• Mar 28, 2025

  Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. Public Utility Commission Sets Hearing on AI Data Centers’ Impacts on Electricity

  The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced a hearing on April 24, 2025, to evaluate the impact of AI data centers on the state’s electricity infrastructure and economy. PUC Chairperson Stephen DeFrank emphasized the need to protect consumers while facilitating economic growth and technological advancement. The commission will investigate two major data center projects: Constellation Energy’s $1.6 billion restart of its nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island to provide carbon-free electricity for Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services’ $650 million data center purchase near a nuclear plant that will consume energy equivalent to 900,000 homes.

• Mar 20, 2025

  A capacidade dos Data Centers vem aumentando, assim como o investimento e o uso da terra

  The article discusses the increasing capacity and investment in Data Centers in the United States, attributed mainly to a surge in electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence applications. By the end of 2024, Data Centers had reached over 92 GW of capacity, with additional monthly growth surpassing 7 GW. Major companies like Meta and Amazon are investing heavily in renewable energy to meet their electricity consumption, including significant solar projects in Texas and Mississippi. The trend highlights the urgent market expansion and infrastructure challenges for energy supply.