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Minneapolis City Council Advances New Data Center Regulations Amid Development Scrutiny

Minneapolis City Council Advances New Data Center Regulations Amid Development Scrutiny

The Minneapolis City Council is set to vote on new regulations for data centers, following a committee's recommendation for approval. The proposed ordinance would allow data centers in existing buildings within two downtown zoning districts, but with a limit on 'white space' (the area housing servers) to 150,000 square feet. This measure comes after previous attempts at stricter regulations, including a total ban, failed. Under the new proposal, data centers would not be permitted as the sole use of a property, and servers would need to be at least 20 feet from exterior walls and 100 feet from residential housing. Owners would also be required to disclose projected water, electricity, and backup generator usage, along with a plan to mitigate noise. The Planning Commission had recommended even stricter limits, but Mayor Jacob Frey reportedly indicated he would veto such stringent regulations.
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Ohio State University Researchers Project Significant Increase in Data Center Electricity Consumption by 2030

Ohio State University Researchers Project Significant Increase in Data Center Electricity Consumption by 2030

Researchers at Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences project that data centers belonging to six major technology companies could more than double their global electricity consumption by 2030 compared to 2024 levels. This increase is largely driven by the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI). The study, published in Communications Sustainability, estimates that these companies' combined annual data center electricity use worldwide could rise from approximately 118 terawatt-hours in 2024 to between 239 and 295 terawatt-hours by 2030, accounting for roughly 1% of projected global electricity demand. Ohio is identified as one of the states expected to experience particularly high demand, with the six companies' data centers potentially consuming over 15 terawatt-hours annually by 2030. This amount is roughly one-tenth of the electricity sold to all Ohio customers in 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The study focused on Amazon, ...
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NYU Researcher Advocates for Increased Community Contributions from Data Centers

NYU Researcher Advocates for Increased Community Contributions from Data Centers

NYU Researcher Advocates for Increased Community Contributions from Data Centers
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The Latest: Hegseth says bipartisan impeachment push is about ‘policy disagreements’

The Latest: Hegseth says bipartisan impeachment push is about ‘policy disagreements’

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is condemning the impeachment effort against him as “a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment.”
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Paul Meeks Expresses Bullish Outlook for CoreWeave in 2027, Cites Concerns for 2028

Paul Meeks Expresses Bullish Outlook for CoreWeave in 2027, Cites Concerns for 2028

Paul Meeks Expresses Bullish Outlook for CoreWeave in 2027, Cites Concerns for 2028
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Minneapolis City Council to Vote on Sweeping Data Center Regulations

Minneapolis City Council to Vote on Sweeping Data Center Regulations

The Minneapolis City Council is poised to vote on new, comprehensive regulations for data centers on November 12, ahead of a six-month moratorium expiration on November 21. The proposed rules aim to restrict data centers to existing buildings located only in downtown or the North Loop areas of the city. These facilities would be capped at a maximum size of 150,000 square feet, and any modifications to existing buildings would be minimal. To mitigate potential noise pollution, the regulations stipulate that computer equipment must be positioned at least 20 feet away from exterior building walls. While the city cannot legally limit energy or water consumption, the new rules will mandate that data center companies disclose their usage of these resources to the city. This move comes as the city seeks to manage the growth of data centers, with eight already present downtown and interest from Xcel Energy indicating potential for up to eight more projects.
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Big Tech's Growing Reliance on Fossil Fuels for AI Data Centers Raises Environmental Concerns

Big Tech's Growing Reliance on Fossil Fuels for AI Data Centers Raises Environmental Concerns

Artificial intelligence companies are increasingly forming partnerships with the fossil fuel industry to power their energy-intensive data centers and integrate machine learning into the energy sector. This trend is leading to a surge in natural gas demand in the United States. Major tech companies, including Microsoft and Amazon, are making significant deals with energy providers. Microsoft has signed a 20-year gas power deal with Chevron for a planned 2.67-gigawatt West Texas plant. Amazon is constructing a gas-fired power plant in Texas, which, if completed as planned with seven natural gas plants, could become the largest single source of power-related emissions in the U.S. OpenAI also recently partnered with Abu Dhabi's ADNOC to deploy advanced AI capabilities. This deepening relationship between AI and fossil fuels is expected to extend the life of fossil fuels in the global energy mix, despite record growth in clean energy.
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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Addresses Data Center Concerns Amidst Public Opposition

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Addresses Data Center Concerns Amidst Public Opposition

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Addresses Data Center Concerns Amidst Public Opposition
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Honolulu Voters Approve Food Security Fund to Combat Widespread Hunger

Honolulu Voters Approve Food Security Fund to Combat Widespread Hunger

Honolulu voters have decisively approved a charter amendment establishing a special fund dedicated to addressing food insecurity across Oʻahu. The initiative, championed by the Hawaiʻi Foodbank, received support from three out of four voters. This new fund will allocate approximately $8 million annually from existing property tax revenues, a sum nearly equivalent to the food bank's yearly budget for food procurement. The primary goal is to funnel support to programs that connect residents in need with locally produced foods and to plan for emergency food needs, such as those arising from major storms. The city is now tasked with determining the most effective way to utilize these funds, balancing support for existing programs with the potential for new initiatives. The Oʻahu Food Systems Action Plan, a comprehensive 154-page document, is expected to guide the allocation of these new resources.
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Interior Department Proposes Modernization of Public Land Planning Rules to Enhance Efficiency and Local Control

Interior Department Proposes Modernization of Public Land Planning Rules to Enhance Efficiency and Local Control

The U.S. Department of the Interior has put forth proposed updates to land use planning regulations for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These changes aim to streamline the BLM's planning process, making it more efficient, easier to comprehend, and better aligned with the agency's current priorities. The existing land planning regulations, first established in 1979, have only undergone two minor revisions since their inception. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that these updates are designed to reduce unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, foster improved collaboration and coordination with state and local governments, and accelerate decision-making processes concerning public lands. The proposed regulation changes have been published in the Federal Register, initiating a 60-day public comment period. Additionally, the bureau plans to host a virtual public information session in early December to provide further details to interested members of the public.
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Small U.S. Towns Attract Data Centers Amidst Urban Restrictions and Economic Decline

Small U.S. Towns Attract Data Centers Amidst Urban Restrictions and Economic Decline

Small U.S. Towns Attract Data Centers Amidst Urban Restrictions and Economic Decline
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Southeast Asian Nations Restrict Data Center Construction Amid Resource Strain and Economic Slowdown

Southeast Asian Nations Restrict Data Center Construction Amid Resource Strain and Economic Slowdown

Southeast Asian Nations Restrict Data Center Construction Amid Resource Strain and Economic Slowdown