News
Reporting on the electricity, emissions, water and land use of AI and the data centers it runs on.
Data Center DynamicsLand
Google ordered to suspend site work at two data centers in Finland following tree clearing controversy
Google was ordered to suspend work at two Finnish data centers following a controversy over the clearing of 250,000 trees at its Muhos site.
GristPolicy
Why clean energy opponents in Michigan are backing a climate activist for Congress
William Lawrence is running for Congress against data centers and large-scale solar projects in Michigan.
WiredPolicy
What the US Movement Against Data Centers Can Learn From Abroad
Author Paris Marx discusses how the US movement against data centers can learn from international developments in countries like Ireland and New Zealand.
GristGrid
For Black voters, climate action means little without relief from rising costs
Black Americans express concern over rising utility bills and pollution related to data centers and seek action from elected officials.
The GuardianLand
The datacentre next door: on the frontline of tech’s latest David v Goliath battle
Residents in Newport, Wales, are opposing the construction of a large hyperscale data center located near their homes.
Data Center DynamicsPolicy
SpaceXAI facing $6.1m fine in Mississippi for building data centers without securing correct permits
SpaceXAI faces a $6.1 million fine in Mississippi for building data centers without correct permits and faces litigation over problematic gas turbines.
Inside Climate NewsPolicy
Alabama’s New Data Center Rules Still Leave Customers in the Dark, Critics Say
Critics argue that Alabama's new data center policies do not provide enough transparency regarding contracts between data centers and Alabama Power.
404 MediaPolicy
Portal Texas Used to ‘Rubber Stamp’ Data Centers Down After 404 Media Reporting
Texas commissioners stated they are ensuring all applications are reviewed by agency staff to determine if they are related to data centers.
Data Center KnowledgePolicy
Nvidia Unveils DSX POD Amid Greenpeace Protest
Nvidia launched its DSX POD in Berlin amid protests from Greenpeace regarding the rapid expansion of the data center industry.
Rest of WorldWater
Big Tech’s thirst for water is sparking a global resistance
Paris Marx's book examines local community resistance to the high water demand required to cool hyperscale data centers.
Data Center KnowledgeGrid
Data Centers Can Delay, Not Dodge, the Power Crunch
Utilities require proof of efficiency gains and flexible workloads to ensure data centers can manage power demand during grid constraints.
Canary MediaGrid
Google plans big virtual power plant in energy-strapped PJM grid
Google and Voltus announced a plan to develop one gigawatt of virtual power plant capacity in the PJM Interconnection to support data center energy needs.
404 MediaLand
Chestnuts Roasting on a Data Center
A massive data center threatens an endangered American chestnut grove.
404 MediaLand
The Chestnut Grove Caught in the Middle of A Years-Long Data Center Fight
A historic grove of American chestnut trees in West Virginia is the site of a long-standing protest against an AI data center.
Data Center KnowledgeGrid
Is Front-of-the-Meter Power the Next Data Center Play?
Front-of-the-meter power is proposed as a way for data centers to ease grid strain and expand capacity while addressing growing energy demand concerns.
Canary MediaPolicy
Illinois needs batteries. Will a new incentive program help?
Illinois passed a new incentive program to address the need for battery storage to meet rising energy demand from data center development.
Canary MediaGrid
A cleaner solution to America’s aluminum crunch is hiding in landfills
The U.S. aluminum market faces supply shortages and tariffs, creating competition for cheap power between smelters and data centers.
Data Center KnowledgePolicy
Could the Societal Value of Workloads Shape Data Center Policy?
Policymakers may consider whether the societal value of digital services justifies the environmental and infrastructure costs of data center expansion.
Data Center KnowledgePolicy
Reliability Standards for AI Data Centers, Crypto Miners Move Closer to Adoption
Proposed rules for AI data centers and crypto miners with loads of 50 MW or more await approval by NERC and federal regulators.
How stories are chosen
Stories come from the feeds of news outlets and trade publications, not from search engines or press-release services. A language model running on a single laptop reads each headline and teaser, keeps reporting, research, regulation and local disputes about the physical footprint of AI, and leaves out company announcements, deals and product news. It also writes the one-line summary.
The model can misjudge a story or misstate a detail; the linked article is the source. Figures on this site come from the company data, not from these stories. To suggest a publication or report an error, email research@openbutterfly.com.