Federal regulators will allow tech companies to effectively plug massive data centers directly into power plants, issuing a long-awaited order Thursday, as the Trump administration urges them to help the U.S. lead the world in artificial intelligence and revive domestic manufacturing.
"Critics fear Georgia Power’s $16.3 billion investment in fossil-gas plants and batteries will jack up customers’ bills if data centers don’t show up as forecasted."
"The Senate may vote on an amendment to spending legislation that critics say could lead to public lands sales."
"After a 137-year struggle, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina has finally received full federal recognition from the U.S. government."
"More than $900 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants and loans are awaiting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s approval under her controversial policy of personally reviewing major expenditures, an agency source told The Hill."
"Trump Media plans to merge with a company developing nuclear fusion technology, putting the president’s financial interests in competition with other energy companies over which his administration holds sway."
"Residents of Gloster, Mississippi, are suing plant that exports wood pellets to UK and Europe. Company says it is reducing emissions"
"An internal watchdog in the U.S. Department of Energy will investigate the Trump administration’s termination of $7.6 billion in grants for hundreds of clean energy projects across 16 states that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election."
"A federal judge on Wednesday blocked Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ‘s attempt to shut down an aging oil pipeline running beneath a channel linking two of the Great Lakes, finding that only the federal government can regulate interstate pipeline safety."
"Higher exports of liquefied natural gas in 2025 played a significant role in rising utility bills, an analysis of federal data found."
Links
[1] https://www.sej.org/headlines/feds-pave-way-big-tech-plug-data-centers-right-power-plants
[2] https://apnews.com/article/power-electricity-ai-power-plants-data-centers-grid-6f52e60c4924f634a21fb5f35d68f29b
[3] https://www.sej.org/headlines/georgia-s-lame-duck-utility-commission-oks-massive-pricey-gas-buildout
[4] https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/utilities/georgias-lame-duck-utility-commission-oks-massive-pricey-gas-buildout
[5] https://www.sej.org/headlines/groups-express-alarm-about-mike-lee-lands-amendment
[6] https://www.eenews.net/articles/groups-express-alarm-about-mike-lee-lands-amendment/
[7] https://www.sej.org/headlines/n-carolinas-lumbee-tribe-wins-full-federal-recognition-after-137-year-push
[8] https://www.npr.org/2025/12/20/g-s1-103223/lumbee-tribe-federal-recognition-137-years?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
[9] https://www.sej.org/headlines/fema-900-million-grants-loans-awaits-noem-s-approval
[10] https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5656887-fema-backlog-grants-noem-review/
[11] https://www.sej.org/headlines/another-trump-financial-conflict-time-nuclear-power
[12] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/business/energy-environment/trump-media-tae-merger-nuclear-fusion.html?unlocked_article_code=1.-k8.yuH1.gc9cFaWrK_eZ&smid=url-share
[13] https://www.sej.org/headlines/mississippi-residents-say-wood-pellet-plant-harming-their-town
[14] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/17/mississippi-wood-pellet-industry-energy
[15] https://www.sej.org/headlines/doe-watchdog-will-audit-trump-cuts-nearly-8b-clean-energy-grants
[16] https://apnews.com/article/climate-department-of-energy-inspector-general-trump-2b25af6cc7bfbc0d512e0c44e9253106
[17] https://www.sej.org/headlines/federal-judge-blocks-whitmer-shutting-down-pipeline-under-great-lakes
[18] https://apnews.com/article/enbridge-pipeline-tunnel-whitmer-lawsuit-trump-7b0bfc8858f4dfdefb029a201eae1b79
[19] https://www.sej.org/headlines/gas-exports-are-driving-americans-energy-bills-report-says
[20] https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17122025/liquefied-natural-gas-exports-driving-up-energy-bills/
[21] https://www.sej.org/search_results
[22] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=195
[23] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=192
[24] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=193
[25] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=194
[26] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=197
[27] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=198
[28] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=199
[29] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=200
[30] https://www.sej.org/search_results?page=5082