US Regulators Deny Rehearing on Amazon-Talen Energy Data Center Power Deal
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On Sat, 12 Apr, 12:07 AM UTC
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US regulators deny rehearing on co-located Amazon data center energy pact
NEW YORK, April 11 (Reuters) - U.S. energy regulators this week denied a request to reconsider a decision that blocked an Amazon (AMZN.O), opens new tab data center, connected directly to a Talen Energy (TLN.O), opens new tab nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, from ramping up its power use, government filings show. Big Tech's race to secure massive amounts of electricity to fuel its AI data centers has led to unprecedented arrangements with power companies, including new types of so-called co-located deals, where the giant computer warehouses are powered right from the power source. The arrangements have promised to speed up the technology industry's artificial intelligence expansion by eliminating wait times to connect to the broader grid and have propelled company shares of independent power companies like Talen on the prospect of signing multiple co-located power deals. Members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission have voiced concern about how the Amazon data center, which diverts electricity from the broader grid, might affect power reliability and costs for the general public. In November, FERC rejected Talen's request to increase power supplied to the Amazon data center beyond 300 megawatts. When Talen Energy sold the data center to Amazon, the company said the facility could use almost 1,000 megawatts of energy supplied directly from Talen's Susquehanna nuclear facility. FERC, on Thursday, denied Talen's request for a rehearing on the matter. The commission is still considering broader rules governing co-located data centers. Reporting by Laila Kearney; editing by Philippa Fletcher Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Boards, Policy & RegulationRegulatory OversightGovernanceGrid & InfrastructureNuclear
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US regulators deny rehearing on co-located Amazon data center energy pact
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. energy regulators this week denied a request to reconsider a decision that blocked an Amazon data center, connected directly to a Talen Energy nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, from ramping up its power use, government filings show. Big Tech's race to secure massive amounts of electricity to fuel its AI data centers has led to unprecedented arrangements with power companies, including new types of so-called co-located deals, where the giant computer warehouses are powered right from the power source. The arrangements have promised to speed up the technology industry's artificial intelligence expansion by eliminating wait times to connect to the broader grid and have propelled company shares of independent power companies like Talen on the prospect of signing multiple co-located power deals. Members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission have voiced concern about how the Amazon data center, which diverts electricity from the broader grid, might affect power reliability and costs for the general public. In November, FERC rejected Talen's request to increase power supplied to the Amazon data center beyond 300 megawatts. When Talen Energy sold the data center to Amazon, the company said the facility could use almost 1,000 megawatts of energy supplied directly from Talen's Susquehanna nuclear facility. FERC, on Thursday, denied a request for a rehearing on the matter. Talen, which has separately asked a U.S. appeals court to weigh FERC's rejection, said it wasn't surprised by the decision. "The ruling now allows us to pursue our appeal rights on the merits in the Fifth Circuit," Talen spokesperson Taryne Williams said on Friday. FERC is still considering establishing broader rules governing co-location as it becomes and increasingly popular choice for data center developers. (Reporting by Laila Kearney; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
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The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has denied a request to reconsider its decision blocking an Amazon data center from increasing its power consumption beyond 300 megawatts, highlighting the growing tension between AI-driven energy demands and public utility concerns.
FERC Rejects Rehearing on Amazon-Talen Energy Data Center Power Deal
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has denied a request to reconsider its decision that blocked an Amazon data center from increasing its power consumption beyond 300 megawatts 1. This decision highlights the growing tension between the energy demands of AI-driven technology and concerns about public utility reliability and costs.
Background on Co-located Data Centers
The case revolves around a new trend in the tech industry known as "co-located" deals. These arrangements involve giant computer warehouses being powered directly from the power source, bypassing the broader grid 1. This approach has gained popularity as Big Tech companies race to secure massive amounts of electricity to fuel their AI data centers.
The Amazon-Talen Energy Deal
Amazon purchased a data center from Talen Energy, which is directly connected to Talen's Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania. Initially, Talen Energy claimed the facility could use almost 1,000 megawatts of energy supplied directly from the nuclear facility 2. However, FERC rejected Talen's request to increase power supply beyond 300 megawatts in November.
FERC's Concerns and Decision
FERC members have expressed concerns about how the Amazon data center, which diverts electricity from the broader grid, might affect power reliability and costs for the general public 1. These concerns led to the initial rejection in November and the recent denial of the rehearing request.
Industry Implications
The co-located deals have promised to accelerate the technology industry's artificial intelligence expansion by eliminating wait times to connect to the broader grid. This prospect has boosted the shares of independent power companies like Talen, as investors anticipate multiple co-located power deals 2.
Next Steps and Broader Implications
Talen Energy, while not surprised by the decision, plans to pursue its appeal rights on the merits in the Fifth Circuit 2. Meanwhile, FERC is considering establishing broader rules governing co-location as it becomes an increasingly popular choice for data center developers.
This case underscores the complex challenges facing regulators as they attempt to balance the energy needs of rapidly advancing AI technologies with the broader public interest. As the demand for AI-powered services continues to grow, finding sustainable and equitable solutions for energy distribution will remain a critical concern for both the tech industry and regulatory bodies.
Reference
[2]
FERC Rejects Amazon's Nuclear Power Deal for AI Data Center, Raising Questions About Future Tech-Energy Partnerships
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's rejection of Amazon's bid to increase power supply from a nuclear plant to its data center has significant implications for AI's growing energy demands and tech-energy partnerships.
5 Sources
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FERC Addresses Challenges of Co-locating AI Data Centers with Power Plants
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) held a technical conference to discuss the costs and reliability concerns associated with building energy-intensive data centers at U.S. power plant sites, as the tech industry races to deploy AI infrastructure.
4 Sources
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US AI Task Force Co-Chair Urges FERC to Support Co-Located Data Centers for AI Development
Congressman Jay Obernolte, co-chair of the U.S. Congressional AI task force, calls on FERC to support the development of data centers directly connected to power plants, citing national security and global AI competition concerns.
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AI Data Centers Strain US Power Grid, Raising Concerns for Future Reliability
The rapid growth of AI data centers is pushing US electricity demand to record highs, raising concerns about the aging power grid's ability to meet future needs. Energy executives and regulators warn of potential reliability issues as fossil fuel generators retire and new power projects face delays.
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US Utilities Face Unprecedented Power Demands from AI Data Centers
U.S. electric utilities are grappling with massive power requests from Big Tech companies for new AI data centers, leading to concerns about grid stability and potential overbuilding.
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