Good morning. In a Truth Social post, President Trump has ordered “new and large, in some cases gigantic” data centers to produce their own electricity (and give or sell any excess electrons to the local grid). We don’t think this counts as an enforceable executive order…but wouldn’t be surprised if it worked out that way.
P.S. Join us for power market pub trivia (yes, you read that right) in NYC on Nov 4. RSVP here
— Molly, Carrie, and the Energy Central editorial team
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These under-the-radar midterm races have major energy impacts.
Energy is playing a starring role in this year’s most hyped midterm races, particularly for Congressional seats and governors’ offices. But contests further down the ballot can have more direct impacts on rising bills, the grid buildout, and data center expansion.
Here are the low-profile races we’re watching this year—and why they deserve more attention:
Public utility commissions: These regulators can shape utility rates, influence infrastructure planning, and nix service contracts with data centers. Voters in 10 states have the chance to elect these officials—and on Nov. 3, commissions in nine states have seats up for grabs. All have Republican majorities…but that could soon change as ratepayers voice frustration with the status quo. For example, the upcoming Georgia PSC race could result in a Democratic stronghold that gets tougher on utility budgets and data center expansion.
State legislatures: This midterms, rising data center opposition could decide state races with some of the country’s largest pipelines, such as Indiana and Ohio. “Any legislative candidate who has a data center planned in their district will have to be ready to answer for it,” said Mike Beehler, former VP at Burns & McDonnell.
State officials can also encourage—or hobble—energy development. Last month, researchers highlighted nearly 900 state laws and local ordinances across 48 states restricting renewables. That’s why Illinois and Michigan enacted laws in 2023 aiming to skirt community opposition to wind and solar.
Municipal governments: Federal lawmakers drive the data center and generation conversations, but it’s the local officials who control the zoning and codes that dictate what actually gets built. They can even require data centers to use certain types of generation; Birmingham, Alabama, for example, orders data centers to rely on solar or fuel cells for primary onsite power.
The bottom line: The contests with the biggest sway over the US energy landscape tend to receive less fanfare, so energy-minded voters will be wise to consider their entire ballot—rather than just the headline races.
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Should power pros be worried about AI-fueled cyber threats? Signs point to yes. 👀
The cause for alarm: In recent months, more than 12 states reported possible cyberattacks on water and wastewater utilities—and, as EC contributor and cybersecurity expert Richard Brooks told us, AI makes it “very easy” for hackers to exploit system vulnerabilities within minutes.
Digging in: To better understand these risks, cybersecurity company Frenos tested how AI models plan attacks on industrial systems like the software used by water utilities. The “strongest frontier models” (all unnamed) succeeded around 90% of the time…and this tech continues to advance.
A caveat: The company didn’t test how human intervention could halt or mitigate the attacks.
What utilities can do: “Limit the accounts and connections that can reach important systems, watch for changes, and prepare a safe response with engineering and operations,” the report noted. And most importantly: assign a (human) responder to sniff out unusual activity and decide how to act.
The DOE dollars keep flowing: The agency is doling out nearly $1B to states, territories, and tribes to support grid resilience.
The goal: To modernize energy infrastructure, improve grid stability, and bring more affordable power to customers. (Get application info here.)
A flurry of funds: This adds to a fat stack of recently announced DOE grants: $2B for transmission upgrades throughout the US, $250M for T&D projects across TVA territory, and $11M for energy workforce training.
While we're here: The DOE is freeing up $42M in Defense Production Act funding to support the controversial Constitution Pipeline, which is planned to funnel natural gas from PA to NY.
Kentucky could host the country’s biggest nuclear campus (yet).
Meanwhile, on the solar front: NJ Rep. Rob Menendez has introduced a House bill that would order all state utility commissions to consider plug-in solar rules. Learn more about plug-in solar and what it means for utilities.
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💻 Cybersecurity risks are changing quickly—here’s how to adapt. Hear what your org can prioritize today to improve your cyber posture. Join Energy Central and our partners at Nozomi Networks for a Nov. 3 webinar:
Thanks for reading. Peace out!