Maryland Senator Targets Data Centers Over Grid Costs A U.S. Senator from Maryland is moving to address the growing strain data centers place on the nation’s electric grid, echoing legislative efforts now underway in Oklahoma that seek to rein in the soaring energy demands of large-scale technology facilities. Sen. Chris Van Hollen has introduced federal …
Tag: electricity prices
Energy Briefs: Minerals, Power Prices, and Global Markets
Energy Brief: Policy, Power, and Global Markets U.S. plans $12B critical minerals stockpile President Donald Trump announced the U.S. will build a $12 billion stockpile of rare earth elements and other critical minerals to counter reliance on China, using a $10 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank and nearly $2 billion in private funds. …
Utilities Sought $31B in Rate Hikes in 2025,PowerLines Finds
Utility Rate Hike Requests Double in 2025, PowerLines Finds A nationwide non-profit organization says utility rate increases continued to accelerate in 2025, placing growing pressure on consumers across the country — including Oklahoma ratepayers who are already paying higher monthly bills tied to past storm-related fuel costs. In a year-end analysis titled “Utility Bills Are …
Energy Brief: Grid Strain, Wind Ruling, OPEC+ Outlook
AI Data Centers Push Power Prices to Crisis Levels ** AI data centers hit by winter storms this week surged electric costs to as high as $1,200 per megawatt-hour, as Northern Virginia’s hyperscale campuses powering AWS, Microsoft Azure, and other cloud platforms turned what should have been a manageable winter peak into a grid-straining crisis. …
SWEPCO wins rate hike for Arkansas customers
Arkansas regulators approve SWEPCO rate hike for power upgrades Arkansas customers served by Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) will see higher monthly electric bills after the Arkansas Public Service Commission (PSC) approved an $85 million rate increase for the utility. According to reporting by the Arkansas Times, the rate hike will raise the average residential …
Coalition demands nationwide moratorium on data centers
Environmental groups call for pause on U.S. data centers A coalition of more than 230 environmental organizations is calling for a national moratorium on new data centers in the United States, escalating a growing backlash against the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure and its strain on energy, water, and climate systems. According to a …
Governor Stitt urges support for data centers
Stitt pushes confidence, not fear, on data centers Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt says the state should not fear the growth of data centers and artificial intelligence, arguing that Oklahoma’s energy strategy positions it to stay competitive while protecting consumers from rising electricity costs. “I think we, we don’t need to be scared about data centers,” …