Data Centers
Ongoing coverage on Data Centers.
Latest coverage
SpaceXAI says it will take a year to fully remove unpermitted gas turbines from its Mississippi data center
SpaceXAI has stated it will take a year to remove unpermitted gas turbines from its Mississippi data center. The company faces accusations from the NAACP of violating the Clean Air Act.
How to fight a data center
This article provides guidance on how to oppose the construction or operation of data centers. It addresses concerns related to noise pollution, utility costs, and broader environmental impacts.
Morning Tech Bits
A report from Tom's Hardware details how 30 homes in Georgia are being acquired for power grid expansion, with one family member attributing the expansion to data centers. The article also briefly mentions Nvidia GPUs in relation to technology infrastructure.
Meta continues to insist AI spend is totally justified, potentially blowing over $8 billion on data centers
Meta reported a record second-quarter revenue of $60.80 billion, but its shares are down due to significant investments in AI infrastructure and Reality Labs. The company plans to spend between $130 billion and $145 billion on AI this year, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlighting AI's positive impact on advertising revenue and potential for enterprise services.
Evening Tech Bits
Meta is reportedly using older DDR4 RAM in DDR5 servers with a custom chip, addressing a RAM crisis. Separately, the Trump Administration is exempting data centers from pollution laws aimed at preventing acid rain.
The Trump administration is exempting data centers from pollution laws intended to prevent acid rain
The Trump administration has exempted data centers from pollution laws designed to prevent acid rain. This decision allows for the expansion of data centers without adhering to environmental regulations concerning acid rain.
Your old Google Pixel smartphone could be repurposed in a data center
The article discusses the potential for repurposing old Google Pixel smartphones for use in data centers, promoting sustainability by keeping devices out of landfills. This approach aims to give old technology a new, useful life.
Quest maker Meta is having its cake and eating it
Meta is partnering with BlackRock to build a new data center in El Paso, Texas, with an investment of around $14 billion. This facility will provide 1 gigawatt of compute capacity to support Meta's AI technologies and models, with operations expected to begin in 2028. The move comes as Meta faces component shortages impacting its VR hardware like the Meta Quest 3 and has seen significant losses in its Reality Labs division.
Micron's low power DRAM 'consumes approximately one-third the power of DDR5' in AI data center workloads,…
Micron and Meta have collaborated on an experimental data center rollout of low power DRAM (LPDDR5X) using Micron's SOCAMM2 form factor. Testing indicated this experimental DRAM consumes approximately one-third the power of DDR5 in AI workloads, accounting for under 7% of total system power and offering better bandwidth-per-watt performance.
Sunday Tech Bits
This article touches on several technology-related news items, including Virginia regulators downplaying data center health concerns and Huawei's development of its own DRAM fabrication plant, which could impact global RAM prices. It also briefly mentions a tool called Game Compressor.
Meta has pulled out of a renewable energy initiative as it relies more on natural gas for data centers
Meta has withdrawn from a renewable energy initiative, opting instead to rely more on natural gas for its data centers. The company has committed to 10 natural gas plants since last year.
Morning Tech Bits
President Trump has expanded a pledge concerning AI data centers to include state governors and utility companies. The White House asserts this initiative aims to make electricity more affordable.
Evening Tech Bits
Intel and AMD have reportedly signed long-term server CPU deals with Chinese customers, with prices increasing by over 40%. Separately, proposals for space-based datacenters by Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin have been deemed potentially catastrophic for the planet.
Morning Tech Bits
OpenAI is investing $30 billion in a new 3.2 GW data center in Georgia, facing local opposition. The article also briefly mentions Microsoft PowerShell version 7.6.
Morning Tech Bits
AMD's graphics cards are becoming more competitive with Nvidia's, not due to gaming performance, but in the data center market. Analysts predict data centers will consume 20% of US power by 2035, indicating a significant increase in energy demand.
Meta is reportedly considering a multibillion-dollar data center deal with Anthropic
Meta is reportedly considering a multibillion-dollar deal with AI company Anthropic for data center services. This potential agreement could establish a new business venture for the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.
Elon Musk bought a gas turbine company
SpaceXAI is reportedly acquiring a gas turbine company, likely to serve as a direct power source for its data centers. This move suggests a strategic effort to secure energy infrastructure for its artificial intelligence initiatives.
NY governor orders a pause on large AI data center construction, to ensure that 'when companies succeed because of…
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has issued a year-long moratorium on the construction of new high-powered data centers, requiring at least 50 megawatts of power. This pause aims to allow state agencies to develop regulations addressing concerns about water usage, noise, power consumption, and community impact. The move comes amid growing local opposition and broader discussions about the environmental and infrastructural effects of data center development.
Evening Reading - July 14, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading from Shacknews covers various gaming industry updates, including pre-order guides for Halo: Campaign Evolved and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves DLC. It also reports on Ubisoft Barcelona developer strikes over layoffs, a delay for the PlayStation FlexStrike Fight Stick, and the retirement of Dead Space creator Glen Schofield. Additionally, the article touches on non-gaming news regarding data centers and healthcare.
Ohio EPA drafts permit allowing data centers to dump wastewater & biocides into state waters
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has drafted a five-year permit allowing data centers to discharge wastewater containing biocides, heavy metals, and PFAS into state waters, including Lake Erie. This new blanket permit would replace individual permits, significantly reducing review processes and potentially leading to a decline in water quality. The permit includes optional pollution prevention measures if deemed economically infeasible.
