Data Center Signal is tracking 20 clips about Blackstone data center developments across 7 states, including MI, NM, VA, GA, IA.
CNBC's David Faber reports from the construction site of the Stargate AI data center in Saline Township, Michigan. This "enormous" facility covers 250 acres of a 1000-acre site, is valued at $16 billion, and is expected to consume up to 1.4 gigawatts of power. Key investors include Related Digital, Blackstone, and PIMCO, with Oracle as a major client and SoftBank also involved.
The article examines the rapid data center expansion in Northern Virginia, detailing resident complaints about noise and environmental impacts, and discusses how these issues could foreshadow challenges for proposed projects in Western Pennsylvania. It also highlights the significant economic benefits data centers bring to Virginia counties and recent regulatory efforts by the Virginia State Corporation Commission to manage electricity costs for large users like data centers.
Anderson County, Tennessee, is considering new zoning regulations for data centers due to concerns about their significant electricity and water consumption. The Planning Commission voted to send a proposal to the County Commission, highlighting environmental and financial impacts on residents and local resources.
Residents of Fayetteville, Georgia, are outraged after discovering a QTS data center used 30 million gallons of water without proper billing, contributing to weak water pressure during a state-wide drought. The county attributed the billing issue to a procedural error and QTS has since paid the owed amount. Public anger is fueled by perceived preferential treatment for the data center amidst calls for citizen water conservation.
A Blackstone-owned QTS data center campus in Fayetteville, Georgia, reportedly consumed over 29 million gallons of water without the local utility's initial knowledge, causing low water pressure for residents. The issue involved unbilled connections, and QTS later paid a retroactive charge. Despite significant community anger, the county water utility opted not to fine QTS, further intensifying local opposition.
Two New Mexico Democratic gubernatorial candidates debated various issues, including their differing approaches to massive data center projects. While one candidate emphasized economic benefits and clean energy acceleration, the other expressed concerns about transparency and compliance with state clean energy goals, particularly regarding power generation. They also discussed water resources and the proposed acquisition of the state's largest electric utility.
Democratic gubernatorial candidates Deb Haaland and Sam Bregman debated environmental and energy issues in New Mexico, including their stances on the proposed Project Jupiter hyperscale data center. They discussed the need for guardrails on water and electricity use for data centers and also addressed the acquisition of Public Service Company of New Mexico.
The battle over the Prince William Digital Gateway data center project in Prince William County, Virginia, is heading to the Virginia Supreme Court. A judge previously halted construction due to insufficient public notice during the county's zoning approval. While one developer chose not to appeal, QTS, backed by Blackstone, has filed an appeal to overturn the ruling.
Residents in the San Gabriel Valley are protesting an approved 400-megawatt battery energy storage facility in the City of Industry, fearing pollution and that it could pave the way for more industrial development, including data centers. Activists have challenged the project's approval under the California Environmental Quality Act.
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission is investigating whether Blackstone's $400 million stock purchase of TXNM Energy Inc. violated state law during its proposed acquisition of Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM). Executives from Blackstone and TXNM defended the stock sale, while advocacy groups and the state Department of Justice urged regulators to void the transaction. Protesters in Albuquerque cited concerns about potential rate increases and Blackstone's data center development interests.
Financing has been secured for the $16 billion Related Digital data center campus, known as "The Barn," in Saline Township, Michigan, with major construction already underway. The project, designed for Oracle and announced by OpenAI, will be powered by DTE using existing resources and new battery storage. Despite generating economic benefits, the development has sparked protests from local residents.
The QTS data center campus under construction in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is hailed by local and national leaders as a "cutting edge" project promising up to $50 billion in economic growth. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright toured the site, emphasizing its role in the reindustrialization of America and the growth of the AI industry. Despite its massive scale, QTS and Alliant Energy officials assert the project's impact on consumer electrical rates and water usage will be minimal due to investments in generation and closed-loop cooling systems.
Oracle's planned $16 billion data center campus in Saline Township, Michigan, has secured financing from Related Digital, Blackstone, and PIMCO. The project, a collaboration with OpenAI and SoftBank, aims to expand US AI infrastructure but faces local opposition due to concerns about the electric grid and pollution.
A massive data center located in Saline Township, Michigan, has successfully secured its financing. The funding for this significant development was obtained through Blackstone.
Major construction is underway for a $16 billion data center in Saline Township, Michigan, developed by Related Digital and Blackstone for Oracle, with financing secured. The project faces ongoing controversy and legal challenges from the Michigan Attorney General regarding DTE Energy's power supply contracts and transparency, despite assurances that it will not increase rates for existing customers.
The Oracle and OpenAI data center in Saline Township, Michigan, now has a $16 billion price tag, with financing secured by Related Digital and Blackstone affiliates. The project is under construction despite sustained local opposition, including legal challenges to zoning decisions and approved utility contracts. Attorney General Dana Nessel has also filed a motion to reopen the MPSC's approval of DTE Energy's power contracts for the facility.
New Mexico groups and residents are vehemently opposing Blackstone's proposed $11.5 billion acquisition of local utility PNM. Their concerns include potential electricity rate increases, decreased local accountability, and the anticipated strain on infrastructure from powering energy-intensive data centers, which could lead to water and energy shortages. The public is encouraged to submit comments to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission by May 1st regarding Case No. 25-00060-UT.
A Virginia appeals court upheld a lower court's ruling that voided a crucial rezoning decision for the 2,100-acre PW Digital Gateway project in Prince William County. This legal setback puts the massive data center development on life support, with opponents now urging county officials to halt further appeals and effectively kill the project. The county is currently reviewing the decision and considering its next legal steps.
Local battles over data center developments are escalating across Michigan, involving multiple townships, government bodies, and developers. Community concerns center on environmental impact, national security risks, electricity and water usage, and transparency in project approvals. The disputes involve formal resolutions, rejected recall petitions, ongoing legal challenges, and withdrawn project applications.
This article discusses concerns raised by journalist Karen Hao and community organizer Bianca Sopoci-Belknap about the potential impact of Blackstone's acquisition of New Mexico's electric utility, PNM. They argue that this could lead to more AI data centers being built in New Mexico, which would burden local communities with construction costs and environmental toll from water usage.