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New Amazon Data Center Stokes Worry It Would Be the Most Polluting Power Plant in the U.S.

The tech giant is investing in the natural-gas-burning power plant as part of a huge data center in Texas, even as it pledges to honor climate commitments.
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Plug-In Solar Panels Are Starting to Sprout in U.S. Backyards

Ten U.S. states have legalized systems that can be plugged into standard wall outlets. The technology typically does not require permits or electricians.

Β© Poppy Lynch for The New York Times

Alex Ottoboni with his balcony solar panel at his condo in the San Francisco Bay Area
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Trump Administration Is Repurposing Federal Land for A.I. Data Centers

In the latest example, the Energy Department will convert a shuttered Cold War-era uranium enrichment facility into a data center campus and gas plants.

Β© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

President Trump and Energy Secretary Chris Wright during a White House event last week in which 200 companies vowed to prevent A.I. data centers from driving up power costs.
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Nuclear Energy Revival Puts Westinghouse in Prime Position

The company, which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2017, stands to benefit from growing support for nuclear power and President Trump’s deal with Saudi Arabia.

Β© Mike Stewart/Associated Press

Cooling towers at the nuclear reactor facility at the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Waynesboro, Ga.
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The U.S. Is Pulling Back on Energy Efficiency

The Trump administration is undoing fuel-saving efforts even as war in Iran, data centers and heat waves are pushing up gasoline and electricity costs.

Β© Michael Hickey/Getty Images

A dishwasher at a General Electric plant in Louisville, Ky. The Energy Department has moved to repeal 17 standards for dishwashers, washing machines, kitchen appliances and more.
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Data Centers to Add Billions in Power Costs in 13 States

A power auction conducted by a giant grid operator is expected to add $6.3 billion in additional charges to consumers and businesses because of electricity needs of data centers.

Β© Leah Millis/Reuters

Northern Virginia is home to several data centers, including the Digital Realty Data Center in Ashburn.
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To Reduce Electrical Grid Strain Amid Heat Wave, Data Centers Are Ordered to Use Backup Power

As triple-digit temperatures engulf much of the United States, the Trump administration wants grid managers to require the use of backup power that often goes unused.

Β© Leah Millis/Reuters

The energy secretary has asked grid managers to require data centers to use backup power when electrical systems are under strain during the heat wave.
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Your Home Could Help Solve AI’s Growing Power Demand

Tesla, Sunrun and Renew Home plan to tap solar panels, batteries, thermostats and other devices installed in millions of homes to meet the energy demands of artificial intelligence.

Β© Collin Chappelle for The New York Times

Installation of a Sunrun solar panel on a roof in California. Sunrun is working with Tesla and Renew Home to use home energy devices to help data centers get online faster.
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Energy Dept. Promises $17.5 Billion in Loans for Nuclear Power

The federal government wants to help utilities buy large components for up to 10 large nuclear reactors. It’s unclear which, if any, companies might participate.

Β© Kendrick Brinson for The New York Times

The Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia is the only one with AP1000 reactors in the U.S. They generate enough electricity to power 1 million homes, but they took 15 years to build and cost $35 billion, double the initial estimates.
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When Data Centers Come for Your Backyard

As data centers sprout across Georgia, the state’s utility providers are building new power lines to meet the demand for electricity. We speak with residents in Fayetteville, about 25 miles south of Atlanta, who say the new lines will run through their backyards and make it impossible to resell their homes at their current value.
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G.M. Plans to Develop Energy Storage Batteries as E.V. Sales Flag

The carmaker will follow Tesla in making components for large batteries used by electric utilities, data centers and other businesses to handle fluctuations in power supply and demand.
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