NARUC Urges FERC to Respect State Authority
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to respect state authority over retail electricity sales and protect ratepayers from higher costs linked to data center interconnections.
Regulators warned that federal overreach could raise prices for consumers already facing infrastructure and reliability challenges tied to the rapid growth of large-scale data centers.
Bipartisan Support for EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting
Sen. Kevin Cramer Joins Democrats in Defense of Program
Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota joined Senate Democrats in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to preserve the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program.
Lawmakers said the program is critical for tracking industrial emissions and informing climate policy. Cramer’s bipartisan support signals ongoing efforts to maintain transparency in carbon data collection even as regulatory debates continue.
FERC Faces Tight Deadline on Load Interconnection Order
Experts Warn of Implementation Challenges
Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s directive for FERC to standardize large-load interconnections faces significant logistical challenges and a tight regulatory timeline.
Energy analysts said the order introduces a complex compliance process that the agency is unlikely to complete on schedule, given the volume of pending interconnection requests from data center and manufacturing projects.
ADM Launches World’s Largest Carbon Storage Facility
Nebraska Ethanol Site Begins Operations
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) began operations at a Nebraska carbon capture and storage project, which officials describe as the largest facility of its kind in the world.
The site, located at an ethanol processing plant, captures and stores industrial CO₂ emissions, advancing carbon sequestration goals while supporting the region’s biofuel industry.
World Energy Developments
EU Opens Antitrust Investigation into Google
Publishers Claim Revenue Losses from Spam Policy
The European Union launched a new antitrust investigation into Google’s spam policy after publishers complained it reduced their ad revenues.
Officials said Google’s crackdown on search algorithm manipulation, launched in March 2024, may have unfairly penalized legitimate content providers and distorted digital advertising markets.
U.S. Disappointed Over Rolls-Royce Nuclear Contract
British Project Snubs American Reactor Manufacturers
The United States expressed disappointment with the United Kingdom’s decision to select Rolls-Royce—instead of a U.S. manufacturer—to build the country’s first small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in Wales.
Officials said the move represents a setback for American nuclear exports amid growing global competition in the SMR sector.
Spain’s ACS Nears $26.8B Data Center Partnership
BlackRock Unit to Back Global Expansion
Spain’s ACS Group is reportedly close to finalizing a €23 billion ($26.8 billion) partnership with BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners to develop data centers worldwide, according to Expansion.
Industry analysts said the agreement would create one of Europe’s largest infrastructure and digital energy ventures, aligning with surging demand for AI-driven computing capacity.
Grid Congestion Wastes 23% of UK Wind Power
SSE Reports Energy Curtailment Due to Network Limits
Nearly a quarter of wind power generated by SSE, one of Britain’s largest electricity producers, was wasted due to grid congestion.
SSE admitted that 23% of the output from its onshore and offshore wind farms was “constrained” between April and September, underscoring the urgent need for grid modernization and storage investments to maximize renewable output.