Christa Marshall
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Energy technology editor at @EENewsUpdates/POLITICO. @Columbiajourn, Denver Post alum. Got tips? Email cmarshall@eenews.net
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Articles by Christa Marshall
Flirting with disaster (aid)
Republicans and Democrats may have a bipartisan recipe for disaster aid. In a rare push, congressional lawmakers from both parties are wrangling legislation that aims to take politics out of federal cash for devastating storms, wildfires and other natural catastrophes, as Andres Picon writes . They are working to include the proposal in the Senate's forthcoming defense policy bill. The measure comes after a series of high-profile accusations of playing favorites.
Amazon in Texas: It's all about the gas
Everything may be bigger in Texas, but when it comes to data centers, the state is seeing Amazon-ian sizes. Amazon confirmed to our Shelby Webb that it plans to build an artificial intelligence hub in West Texas tied to a massive power plant that could be the nation's largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Power of the (regulator's) purse
It's showtime for state regulators. Powerful utility commissions around the country are making decisions that could determine for years who pays for the energy infrastructure behind the artificial intelligence boom. The moves underscore that when it comes to deciding electricity costs, well, state officials are getting some R-E-S-(P-U-C)-T. Take two states: Virginia, the U.S. data center capital, and North Carolina, where Democratic Gov.
Nuclear wastin' away in DOE-ville
The Trump administration is going nuclear again. The Department of Energy announced Tuesday that five Republican-led states will potentially host hubs for “final disposition of used nuclear fuel,” which could cover everything from waste disposal to uranium enrichment, A.J. Camacho writes today The move underscores the Trump administration's view that opportunities to support nuclear reactors and store their waste are, well, a terrible thing to waste.
FERC sets speedy timeline to address data centers’ risks to grid reliability
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday directed North America’s grid watchdog to propose reliability standards for data centers by year’s end amid fears that tech industry demand is posing increasing risks to the electricity system. The move could significantly change how the giants of AI use power. It’s the latest example of federal regulators grappling with surging power demand, including its potential to damage the grid and trigger outages.
GOP governors, utilities join Trump data center pledge
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World News 10 hours ago UAE's big bet on AI Axios - Mike Allen • 10h In Abu Dhabi, the largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates, AI is as much a part of daily life as reporting a pothole or making a doctor's … Politics 12 hours ago Hayes: ICE killings expose illusion of Trump’s ‘quieter’ crackdown MS NOW - MSNBC • 12h After the massive public outcry to the Minnesota ICE operation, Donald Trump and Stephen Miller lost the public and were forced to retreat.
By Jason Plautz Verified, Zack Colman Verified, Kelsey Tamborrino Verified, Christa Marshall Verified
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Flipboard
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The governors of Montana, Wyoming and Missouri are endorsing the White House's effort to control data centers' effect on energy prices. ENERGYWIRE | President Donald Trump is expanding his data center pledge to include some Republican governors and several large utilities, according to state officials and industry executives. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and Missouri Gov.
By Jason Plautz Verified, Zack Colman Verified, Kelsey Tamborrino Verified, Christa Marshall Verified
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POLITICO Pro
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GOP governors, utilities join Trump data center pledge
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Jason Plautz, Zack Colman, Kelsey Tamborrino and Christa Marshall President Donald Trump is expanding his data center pledge to include some Republican governors and several large utilities according to state officials and industry executives. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and Missouri Gov.
By Jason Plautz Verified, Zack Colman Verified, Kelsey Tamborrino Verified, Christa Marshall Verified
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MSN
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GOP governors, utilities join Trump data center pledge Original
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The governors of Montana, Wyoming and Missouri are endorsing the White House's effort to control data centers' effect on energy prices. President Donald Trump speaks at the unveiling of the Ratepayer Protection Pledge at the White House in March. | Jacquelyn Martin/AP 07/14/2026 08:30 PM EDT President Donald Trump is expanding his data center pledge to include some Republican governors and several large utilities according to state officials and industry executives. Montana Gov.
By Jason Plautz Verified, Zack Colman Verified, Kelsey Tamborrino Verified, Christa Marshall Verified
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POLITICO
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Data center wars: Buckeye edition
Don't go to the Midwest for tax breaks, young data centers. Or so suggests Democrat Sherrod Brown, who is running to unseat Republican Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio in a race that could determine which party controls the Senate, as Timothy Cama writes today . A new Brown television advertisement accuses Husted of “cutting sweetheart tax deals” as “the face of data centers,” showcasing how AI facilities have taken center stage in midterm elections.
Fusion investments surge 69 percent as first company goes public
Fusion companies raised a record $4.5 billion over the past year, a 69 percent jump from 2025, according to a new report. The global survey from the Fusion Industry Association, the leading trade group, underscores the market enthusiasm for the technology to produce electricity even though it has not been demonstrated at commercial scale.
Will cooler data centers prevail?
Data centers trying to gain public acceptance are caught in a catch-22. Cooling the massive facilities takes enormous amounts of water, which has proven, well, not cool with many communities.
Trump's nuclear dance: Let's get critical
The Trump administration just hit a major target for advanced nuclear power, but that was the easy part. The Energy Department said Wednesday a third advanced reactor — from Houston-based Deployable Energy — reached “criticality,” meaning it produced a stable chain reaction.
5 questions answered as solar tax credits phase out
Now what? That’s a central question for the solar industry as it approaches a July 4 deadline for projects to begin construction or risk losing lucrative federal tax credits. Solar is under particular pressure because it’s the largest source of new power generation on the U.S. electric grid. Even so, the phase-out of tax credits as part of Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law a year ago raises questions about how much growth to expect for utility-scale and rooftop installations.
E&E News: 5 questions answered as solar tax credits phase out
Many utility-scale developers planned ahead, signaling the looming deadline may not be a massive disruption. ENERGYWIRE | Now what? That's a central question for the solar industry as it approaches a July 4 deadline for projects to begin construction or risk losing lucrative federal tax credits. Solar is under particular pressure because it's the largest source of new power generation on the U.S. electric grid.
The (Empire) state of gas
New York's weakened climate law is hitting the streets, and it may boost natural gas. The rewrite — steered by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul — shows how the political landscape has changed since the original law was passed seven years ago to move the state away from fossil fuels.
U.S. data centers’ electricity use could double by 2030, DOE lab says
By Christa Marshall • Jun 23, 2026 Data centers could more than double their share of U.S. power and account for 9.5 to 15 percent of electricity use by decade’s end, according to a new analysis backed by the Department of Energy. The long-awaited report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory suggests that pressure on the electricity grid from artificial intelligence is growing.
US data centers’ electricity use could double by 2030, DOE lab says
Data centers could more than double their share of U.S. power and account for 9.5 to 15 percent of electricity use by decade’s end, according to a new analysis backed by the Department of Energy. The long-awaited report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory suggests that pressure on the electricity grid from artificial intelligence is growing. The findings are the first major estimate from the lab on data centers’ future power use during the second Trump administration.
Democrats ‘read the damn room' on data centers
Virginia's data center boom is creating major headaches for the state's Democratic Party. The problem? An intraparty disagreement over how much to tax data centers. The split — which could lead to a government shutdown — underscores how the artificial intelligence build-out is reshaping politics in a battleground state closely watched as a test of Democrats' national momentum. Gov.
DOE steers $1.6B loan to Michigan utility
The Department of Energy finalized a $1.6 billion loan Monday to a Michigan-based utility to upgrade the natural gas distribution system, adding to Trump administration efforts to bolster fossil fuels. The funding for DTE Energy is intended to “modernize and strengthen” roughly 800 miles of gas distribution and service lines in the state, DOE said.
The secret effort to discredit climate science
Oil industry allies facing multibillion-dollar legal claims that their products are heating up the planet are gunning for climate research. A chief target? A forthcoming report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, expected to be out as early as this month, that could draw stronger links between industrial climate pollution and specific natural disasters.
DOE unveils road map to develop fusion for electricity
The Department of Energy released a fusion road map Tuesday to expedite development of a technology viewed by the Trump administration as an important player in the future electricity mix. DOE’s final fusion strategy, which involved the input of more than 800 scientists and engineers, outlines infrastructure needed to commercialize the technology within the next decade and sets detailed timelines for the department to reach milestones.
Democratic governors chafe as calls grow louder to reject data centers
Public backlash against the explosive build-out of data centers is raising the stakes for governors — especially moderate Democrats as they set new ground rules but face hardening criticism from within their party for backing the multibillion-dollar projects. Democratic Govs.
DOE spent money not appropriated by Congress — audit
The Trump administration may have violated the law last year by spending money not appropriated by Congress for the Department of Energy, the Government Accountability Office said Thursday. The watchdog found the DOE budget justification for fiscal 2026 reported hundreds of millions of dollars in “enacted” amounts for fiscal 2025 that did not match congressional appropriations.
Avengers: Renewable wars
Republican Rep. Chip Roy lost a Republican primary runoff for Texas attorney general last month. | Francis Chung/POLITICO Renewable energy executives are on the ropes — and are fighting back. The industry’s Invest in Tomorrow Coalition spent $1.7 million to help tank Republican Rep. Chip Roy’s campaign for Texas attorney general. Now, the political action committee is looking for a midterm repeat, Tim Cama and Kelsey Tamborrino write today. The coalition’s chief goal?
DOE blocks gas-to-electric switch in $8B home rebate program
The Department of Energy released guidance Monday that could boost natural gas use and shape funding slated for home energy upgrades across the country. The rules cover energy efficiency rebates for low-income households supported by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated roughly $8.8 billion for the program. In the notice, DOE said rebates should no longer be used to switch from nonelectric appliances like gas furnaces to electric models like heat pumps.
DOE moves to sunset ‘outdated’ regulations
The Department of Energy issued a direct final rule Thursday adding “sunset” provisions to more than 20 rules on everything from nuclear power to greenhouse gas reporting guidelines. The plan, the result of an executive order last year from President Donald Trump, aims to streamline regulations that the administration says are holding back innovation and raising costs. Critics charged the move bypasses the public comment process and hinders public safety.
A French revolution in Texas
The oil and gas industry is king in Texas, but it still doesn’t have enough power to save Republican incumbents. The state’s largest oil producers couldn’t stop hard-right activist Bo French from winning the Republican runoff Tuesday for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission — despite pouring money into the campaign of incumbent Jim Wright. An oil and gas fundraising advantage also wasn’t enough to keep four-term Sen.
A French revolution in Texas
The oil and gas industry is king in Texas, but it still doesn't have enough power to save Republican incumbents. The state's largest oil producers couldn't stop hard-right activist Bo French from winning the Republican runoff Tuesday for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission — despite pouring money into the campaign of incumbent Jim Wright. An oil and gas fundraising advantage also wasn't enough to keep four-term Sen.
White House sweats $5.02 gas prices
The per-gallon prices for different grades of gasoline are posted outside a Conoco station on May 14 in Denver. | David Zalubowski/AP Call it the $5.02 blues. Summer driving season is beginning, and White House officials are “totally freaked” that gasoline prices could pass a record high set in 2022 under former President Joe Biden, Scott Waldman, Alex Gangitano and Megan Messerly report today.
Western states, DOE alums launch coalition to promote geothermal energy
The governors of four Western states are forming a new coalition with two nonprofits to advance geothermal power, a technology seeing renewed investment and support from the Trump administration. The Mountain West Geothermal Consortium includes Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico and is partnering with the Center for Public Enterprise and Constructive, a group of former Department of Energy officials supporting clean energy.
Grid batteries get record boost from data centers
The U.S. market for grid-scale battery storage surged to its best first quarter in history this year, highlighting how data centers and surging power demand are bolstering the industry despite federal policy headwinds. The Solar Energy Industries Association and the research firm Benchmark Mineral Intelligence said Thursday the industry installed 9.7 gigawatt-hours of new capacity in the first three months of the year, a year-over-year spike of 32 percent.
Data center slowdown eases risks to summer grid — but trouble looms
Lower-than-expected demand from data centers is helping decrease the risk of power outages this summer, but overall grid reliability remains shaky, North America’s grid watchdog said Tuesday. The assessment from the North American Electric Reliability Corp. warns that New England and the Pacific Northwest face potential power shortages this summer during extreme heat.
E&E News: AI giant Fermi accuses fired CEO of ‘abusive and bullying behavior’
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AI giant Fermi accuses fired CEO of ‘abusive and bullying behavior’
Data center developer Fermi America said Monday that it fired now-former CEO Toby Neugebauer last month partly due to “threatening, abusive and bullying behavior.” The assertion — made in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and contested by Neugebauer — raises questions about the future of one of the largest planned U.S. artificial intelligence complexes.
Data centers drive 76% surge in PJM power prices
Power prices in the nation’s largest grid market jumped almost 76 percent in the first quarter year-over-year, showcasing how energy demand driven by data centers is remaking the economy across the mid-Atlantic and Midwest.
The crack that could open the US to Chinese EVs
Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Drake Enterprises, an automotive parts manufacturer, on Sept. 27, 2023, in Clinton Township, Michigan. | Scott Olson/Getty Images China wants to bring cheap electric cars to a town near you — and the U.S. auto industry is terrified that President Donald Trump might open the door.
E&E News: Ford pivots from EVs to batteries for data centers
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Ford pivots from EVs to batteries for data centers
Auto giant Ford announced a new subsidiary Monday to manufacture and sell batteries for the grid and data centers, signaling how surging electricity demand is changing the energy sector. Ford Energy is eyeing production of 20 gigawatt-hours of batteries annually, with first deliveries planned for late 2027. The company joins automakers Tesla and GM in manufacturing batteries to meet growing demand for power and grid storage.
64% of Americans blame utilities for surging power prices
Sixty-four percent of Americans blame utilities “wanting to make money” as a major reason for surging home energy costs, according to a new poll. The Pew Research Center survey shows rare agreement among Republicans and Democrats on energy in that members of both political parties consider utilities a primary culprit behind rising bills.
Texas proves it: It’s the energy bills, stupid
State Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D) and Gov. Greg Abbott (R) are set to face off in the Texas governor's race in November. | AP and Getty Images Don’t mess with Texas energy prices. That’s the message driving Gina Hinojosa’s campaign as she tries to become the first Democrat elected Texas governor since 1990. Her claim: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has overseen higher power bills and is failing to rein in energy-hungry data centers as he takes campaign contributions from tech companies.
A $6.5B geothermal company? Industry eyes tipping point.
Fervo Energy said Monday it is eyeing up to a $6.5 billion valuation in a U.S. initial public offering for shares in the geothermal company, as investors signal more confidence the technology can be scaled up to help meet rising electricity demand.
AI boom sparks rare warning of ‘significant risks’ to grid
North America’s grid watchdog is slated to issue its highest level of warning Monday about threats to the power system from large data centers, underscoring the challenges facing utilities and grid operators grappling with a surge in electricity demand. The move signals a new chapter where major technology companies like Amazon and Microsoft may face stricter rules on how they use power.
E&E News: AI boom sparks rare warning of ‘significant risks’ to grid
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Gas wars: Supreme Court edition
A high-efficiency natural gas furnace, hot water heater and air conditioning system is installed at a home in Ossining, New York. | Craig Ruttle/AP Natural gas — already a favored fuel in Donald Trump’s America — could get a new boost from the Supreme Court. The administration backed the natural gas industry’s petition Tuesday for the court to scrap Biden-era rules that would restrict gas-powered water heaters and furnaces.
In a first, fusion company applies for US grid connection
Commonwealth Fusion Systems said Tuesday that it is the first developer of nuclear fusion to request a connection to a regional grid, a move aiming to boost prospects for a landmark power plant. The application to PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest power market, is a notable milestone for a technology that envisions creating low-carbon electricity using the same reaction fueling the sun and stars.
Data centers to triple US power equipment market to $65B
The U.S. electrical equipment market for data centers could more than triple by decade’s end, a sign of the headwinds facing the artificial intelligence build-out, according to a new analysis. Research firm Wood Mackenzie reported Tuesday that the market for technology such as grid transformers to help power AI factories could balloon from $20 billion to $65 billion by 2030.
The race to slash electricity costs is on. So is the blame game.
House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie presides over a markup on Capitol Hill on March 5. | Francis Chung/POLITICO Republicans and Democrats are vying to be the party that fixes skyrocketing electricity prices worrying voters — but disagreement over their root cause may be a roadblock.
Cost of building US gas plants spikes 66%, report says
The cost of building new U.S. gas-fired power plants increased 66 percent from 2023 to 2025, underscoring the pressure on the power sector as data centers increase electricity demand. The time required to bring natural gas power online also increased 23 percent during the two-year span, according to utility filings analyzed by research firm BloombergNEF, suggesting that supply chain bottlenecks are hindering the industry.
E&E News: Trump invokes war powers to juice fossil energy, grid
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