Trump's Initiative Gains Regulatory Support for AI Data Center Power Boost
WHO:
Fast Company - Laura Swett, chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, described the recent vote as historic.
Bloomberg - Verse Enterprises raised a $54 million Series B from Nvidia and others to provide energy-management software for 100 data centers by 2027.
Fast Company - Energy Secretary Chris Wright urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to act.
AP News - Laura Swett, an appointee of Trump, chairs the FERC.
AP News - Companies such as xAI, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, OpenAI, and Amazon signed Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge.
WHAT:
Fast Company - The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voted unanimously to direct six regional grid operators to ensure AI data centers can connect to the transmission system in a timely manner.
AP News - Data centers would pay the full cost of any grid upgrades needed for their connection, as per the commission's order.
Bloomberg - Verse Enterprises aims to help data centers skip the line for connections to the strained energy grid by utilizing batteries and solar energy.
Fast Company - FERC voted unanimously to direct six regional grid operators to ensure AI data centers can connect to the transmission system in a timely manner.
AP News - More than 4,000 data centers currently operate in the U.S., with an additional 3,000 planned or under construction.
AP News - Data centers now account for about 5% of U.S. electricity demand, which could triple by 2035.
AP News - In Virginia, data centers account for more than 25% of overall demand and could rise to more than 40% by 2030.
Fast Company - Data centers would pay the full cost of any grid upgrades needed for their connection.
WHERE:
Fast Company - The six regional grid operators serve 200 million Americans, or two-thirds of FERC’s jurisdiction.
AP News - Virginia is specifically mentioned regarding data center electricity demand.
WHEN:
Bloomberg - Verse Enterprises plans to provide energy-management software for 100 data centers by 2027.
NO_NEW_FACTS
Fast Company - The FERC vote occurred eight months after Wright's request for more control over data center connections.
AP News - A J.P. Morgan report indicated that over 60% of data center capacity planned for completion in 2027 hasn’t begun construction.
WHY:
AP News - The commission's actions are in response to a growing backlash against data centers due to fears about rising electricity prices and concerns about their energy and water usage.
Fast Company - The initiative aims to help the U.S. compete with China in the fast-growing AI sector.
AP News - There is a backlash against data centers due to fears about rising electricity prices and concerns about energy and water usage.
HOW:
AP News - The commission's order allows tech companies to effectively plug a data center directly into a power plant.
Fast Company - The commission's order allows tech companies to effectively plug a data center directly into a power plant.
AP News - The order leaves states in control of retail electric rates, but they are encouraged to develop rules for large power users.
(UPDATED June 18, 2026 23:33 UTC)
In a historic vote, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission unanimously directed six regional grid operators to ensure that AI data centers can connect to the transmission system in a timely manner. As part of this order, data centers will be responsible for covering the full cost of any necessary grid upgrades for their connections. This action comes in response to growing concerns about rising electricity prices and the environmental impact of data centers on energy and water usage.
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(UPDATED June 18, 2026 21:40 UTC)
Verse Enterprises has successfully raised $54 million in a Series B funding round, with contributions from Nvidia and others, to develop energy-management software for data centers. The company aims to assist these facilities in bypassing the congested energy grid by leveraging batteries and solar energy. Their goal is to implement this software for 100 data centers by 2027.
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(UPDATED June 18, 2026 19:49 UTC)
Energy Secretary Chris Wright has called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, chaired by Trump appointee Laura Swett, to take action regarding the connection of AI data centers to the power grid. In response, FERC voted unanimously to direct six regional grid operators to ensure timely connections for these data centers, which currently number over 4,000 in the U.S. and could triple their electricity demand by 2035, with Virginia seeing a significant rise in demand from data centers projected to exceed 40% by 2030.