Data Center Signal is tracking 16 clips about Entergy Arkansas data center developments across 1 states, including AR.
Google is developing a data center in West Memphis, Arkansas, in partnership with Entergy Arkansas. State lawmakers are questioning Entergy Arkansas representatives about the project's significant energy demands and the potential impact on consumer electricity bills.
Arkansas lawmakers are discussing the state's growing data center industry, focusing on energy and water demands. Google's West Memphis data center project and its partnership with Entergy Arkansas for power, including the Cypress Solar facility, were highlighted. Discussions also touched upon water provision for planned data centers across the state.
Entergy Arkansas is deferring over $2.1 billion in upfront and minimum demand payments from Google for its West Memphis data center. This arrangement is part of a 20-year special rate contract, with Entergy's other customers expected to cover the construction costs for the utility infrastructure supporting the data center.
An Arkansas mother obtained documents regarding a data center deal between Entergy Arkansas and Google in West Memphis, alleging Google would only pay a third of required infrastructure upgrades. Entergy sued a news outlet and sought a restraining order against the mother, claiming trade secrets. A U.S. District Judge denied Entergy's request, allowing the information to remain public amidst ongoing disputes over the financial terms.
Google will pay Entergy Arkansas $526 million for the Cypress Solar facility and an additional $190 million for transmission upgrades to power its West Memphis data center. Details of the special rate contract, previously confidential, were revealed through an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request. The Arkansas Public Service Commission approved the contract despite concerns about whether Google's payments adequately cover costs for residential customers.
The Little Rock Board of Directors is set to consider two proposals for a temporary moratorium on new hyperscale data center permits: a six-month pause with a carve-out for Google's project, and an 18-month pause without exception. City Director Kathy Webb is advocating for the longer moratorium, citing insufficient time with the shorter option. The city attorney has warned that an 18-month moratorium could lead to a lawsuit from Google.
Entergy Arkansas has initiated discussions with landowners regarding the installation of new transmission lines. These lines are necessary to power a proposed data center in south Pulaski County being developed by AVAIO Digital. The utility anticipates building infrastructure on private properties to service the facility.
An attorney for AVAIO Digital Partners sought a carve-out for its Project Leo in a proposed 12-month data center moratorium in Pulaski County, Arkansas. Although an amendment to grandfather the project initially passed the Quorum Court, it failed to be approved as an emergency ordinance due to a miscount. A new version of the moratorium, which also exempts the AVAIO project, is set for a full Quorum Court vote on July 28.
Cypress Creek Solar has broken ground on the Steel River Energy Center, the largest solar farm in the US, located near Wilson, Arkansas. This project is significant for data centers, specifically Google's new facility in West Memphis, which will purchase 100% of its energy from solar via Entergy Arkansas. The project also emphasizes job creation and American-made components.
Emails reveal that Pulaski County Justice of the Peace Dianne Curry collaborated with Entergy Arkansas executive John Bethel to draft an ordinance for a 12-month data center moratorium in Pulaski County. The proposed ordinance would specifically exempt a data center project by AVAIO. These communications were obtained through an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request.
Google has agreed to purchase electricity from the Steel River Energy Center, a large solar and battery storage project in Mississippi County, Arkansas. This power purchase agreement will support Google's data centers in West Memphis and Little Rock, aligning with the company's clean energy commitments. The project is also expected to create jobs and generate significant tax revenue for the local community.
Federal regulators have ordered regional grid operators to accelerate the connection process for large energy users, particularly AI data centers, to the national electric transmission system. This decision aims to support the fast-growing AI sector while addressing concerns about the immense power demand of these facilities. Data centers will be responsible for the full cost of any necessary grid upgrades.
Entergy Arkansas officials met with Conway residents to address concerns about a proposed 300-acre data center, estimated at $1 billion. The discussion focused on the project's impact on the state's power grid and electric rates. Entergy clarified that any agreement would require approval from the Arkansas Public Service Commission and highlighted potential benefits and ongoing regulatory steps.
The Little Rock City Board unanimously passed an ordinance to regulate data centers, imposing requirements for noise, landscaping, and utilities. This regulatory action follows plans by Google to build a significant data center near the Port of Little Rock, a project that has drawn considerable public opposition due to concerns over environmental impact, energy consumption, and noise. The new ordinance specifically prohibits the use of groundwater or drinking water for data center cooling.
Data center projects across Arkansas are facing increasing public scrutiny and calls for local regulations despite being hailed as an economic boon. While companies like Google, AVAIO Digital, and Serverfarm are advancing with significant developments, residents and local officials are raising concerns about environmental impacts, resource consumption, and lack of public input. Proposed regulations and even a moratorium are being discussed in Pulaski County and Little Rock to address these issues.
Entergy Corporation is exploring new nuclear energy options in Arkansas to meet a projected tripling/quadrupling of electricity demand by 2050, partly driven by data centers. Entergy Arkansas pledged that new data centers, like those from Google and AVAIO Digital, will pay their "fair share plus" of incremental and existing grid costs, totaling $7 billion across the four-state system. The company is also constructing three new power plants in the state to increase generation responsibly.