2 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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More from All the latest updates on AI data centers

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
I need your help for Installer!

I am prepping this week’s issue a little early, and I want to know everything you’re into. What are you reading / watching / playing / interested in this week? Tell me so I can tell everyone! (And subscribe to Installer!)

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
This week in the big AI data center buildout.

AI data center projects are continuing to pop up across the US, with frequent opposition from locals concerned about their impact. Here are a few recent articles about the projects:

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
This week in the big AI data center buildout.

AI data center projects are continuing to pop up across the US, with frequent opposition from locals concerned about their impact. Here are a few recent articles about the projects:

Is this the future of America?

If you want to know what the data center occupation looks like, visit sleepy Loudoun County, Virginia.

Lauren Feiner
Justine Calma
Justine Calma
A Microsoft-backed data center has reportedly been running on unpermitted generators.

Data center developers typically have to apply for permits to install generators that create local air pollution. The DataOne facility in New Jersey is the latest project accused of violating federal law by running on gas-fired generators without approval.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
This week in the big AI data center buildout.

AI data center projects are continuing to pop up across the US, with frequent opposition from locals concerned about their impact. Here are a few recent articles about the projects:

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Now OpenAI’s former head of data centers is out.

The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg report that Chris Malone, a “key executive” leading OpenAI’s massive build-out plans, left the company last week. The WSJ reports that Malone, who held similar roles at Meta and Google before joining OpenAI in early 2025, had previously reported directly to OpenAI president and cofounder Greg Brockman, but that changed earlier this year amid other reshuffling.

Justine Calma
Justine Calma
There’s a surge of new gas projects being built to power data centers in the US.

Proposals for new gas-fired power capacity tied to data centers nearly doubled in the first half of 2026, according to a Global Energy Monitor report. Nearly a third of that new capacity would come online in Texas, more than in any other state or country.

Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
The latest turn in the data center debate.

The Wall Street Journal and New York Times are both reporting on politicians like Greg Abbott and Josh Shapiro suddenly bashing types of projects they once championed. The Washington Post has a chart showing how online posts about data centers from both Democrat and Republican politicians have shifted from being mostly positive in early 2025 to being mostly negative.

On Sunday, Abbott appeared on ABC’s This Week, saying that by moving too fast, the industry “…basically dug their own grave for the problem that’s been caused for them, and that’s why they got the backlash they deserve.”

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
This week in the big AI data center buildout.

AI data center projects are continuing to pop up across the US, with frequent opposition from locals concerned about their impact. Here are a few recent articles about the projects:

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Nvidia guarantees up to $105 billion to support an OpenAI data center.

The news comes as part of OpenAI’s plans to lease an Ohio data center being built by SB Energy, a subsidiary of SoftBank. The deal will allow OpenAI to secure 8 gigawatts of capacity, with the first 800 megawatts expected to come online in 2028. Nvidia will also invest $1.5 billion in SB Energy.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
This week in the big AI data center buildout.

AI data center projects are continuing to pop up across the US, with frequent opposition from locals concerned about their impact. Here are a few recent articles about the projects:

The left and right agree on one thing: no data centers
Play

Data center bans in states like Florida reveal how the anti-AI movement is channeling bipartisan backlash.

Nilay Patel
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
This week in the big AI data center buildout.

AI data center projects are continuing to pop up across the US, with frequent opposition from locals concerned about their impact. Here are a few recent articles about the projects:

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
At least 37 people have reportedly been arrested for protesting data centers.

Futurism made the tally. The publication also found 12 cases involving police intervention to try and stop protestors from “from confronting civic leaders,” though noted that the tally is “likely much higher.”

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
This week in the big AI data center buildout.

AI data center projects are continuing to pop up across the US, with frequent opposition from locals concerned about their impact. Here are a few recent articles about the projects:

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Willie Nelson is pushing back against data centers in his hometown.

“The last thing we need is a loud, water thieving, light polluting, data center anywhere near our town (or any others for that matter),” Nelson says.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Meta and BlackRock are building a data center campus together.

The campus will be located in El Paso, Texas and is already under construction. It will have “1 gigawatt of compute capacity” and “will play an essential role in bringing Meta’s AI technologies to life.” BlackRock will own an 80 percent interest, while Meta will own a 20 percent interest.

The data center is expected to come online in 2028.