Tyler Norris

I said yes and it shut itself down!

Kidding - it finally got it right on the next try:

Not great

Yuval Noah Harari on Trumpism - in his latest book, “Nexus”

Memories of deadly winter blackouts haunt the Texas data center boom A newly passed law in Texas requires emergency shutoff switches for data centers, including the massive $500 billion AI supercomputer backed by President Trump.

www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

246 people died in Winter Storm Uri, w/ many residences shut off while large industrial loads nearby were untouched. “That can never, ever happen again," TX state Sen. King (R-10) told the Post, who co-authored TX' new law (SB6) requiring curtailment of hyperscale loads during emergencies.

The Puzzle of Low Data Center Utilization Rates Contrary to popular belief, data centers aren't maxed out around the clock - and this has real consequences for power system planning

There is so much…noise…about data center 24/7 energy needs and usage, which turns out to be wrong. There are lots of incentives to be wrong about all of this. @tnorris.bsky.social is doing fabulous work cutting through it all and resetting the discussion.

www.powerpolicy.net/p/the-puzzle...

Really good point, and I realized I should add this alongside general over-sizing for future optionality, which I've done here:

One of the biggest puzzles I’ve run into in the data center world: why is there widespread perception that data centers operate 24/7/365 at near-maximum demand, when their actual utilization appears significantly lower? I unpack this in my latest post: 🔌💡 www.powerpolicy.net/p/the-puzzle...

I'm speaking on this joint NASEO-NARUC webinar tomorrow - join us! 🔌💡 us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

@tnorris.bsky.social, author of a key paper on data centers' potential use of flexible demand, provides reasons to celebrate the Google announcement, e.g., potentially sizable savings for ratepayers. And cautionary notes, e.g., challenges posed by lack of clear incentives or regulatory guidelines.

Google's Big Flex: Can AI Data Centers Become Grid Stabilizers? Google's new utility flexibility agreements hint at a future where data centers ease grid strain and offset rate hikes

Big, welcome, data center and energy news from Google.

My version:

Data Center CEO ‘I must have 24/7, my way’

World ‘ok, 4 or 5 years. Maybe.’

Data Center CEO ‘tell me about that flex stuff and that @tnorris.bsky.social‬⁩ paper I keep hearing about’

www.powerpolicy.net/p/googles-bi...

Google’s new flexibility agreements establish official precedent for definitive long-term contractual arrangements between data centers, utilities, and ISO/RTOs to "enable larger scale demand flexibility,” per Google’s release. It's a big deal. 🔌💡 #energysky www.powerpolicy.net/p/googles-bi...

How we’re making data centers more flexible to benefit power grids An update on how we’re developing flexible data center capabilities to support power grids and build a sustainable, affordable energy system.

Michael Terrell's post: www.linkedin.com/posts/michae...

Google release: blog.google/inside-googl...

What makes Google's data center flex announcement today so notable, IMO: 🔌💡
1) 1st known utility contracts on AI DC flexibility
2) 1st incorporation into utility planning
3) 1st use of ML workloads for flexibility
4) Definitive, long-term contracts
5) Flex applies during certain hrs/times of year

The UK’s next nuclear project will be the world’s most expensive power plant ever built, in absolute and $/kW terms. www.ft.com/content/5f54...

it is insane that we're watching utilities invest over $1t in infrastructure largely to support large corporate data centers while families' electricity bills go up rather than slow down and look at the opportunities for flexibility that could save many billions.

Today’s top @economist.com story: www.economist.com/business/202...

He apparently thinks solar doesn’t perform well on hot summer days (among other reasons discussed briefly in the post)

One of the most extreme maneuvers by a state PUC commissioner I’ve seen just happened, seeking to block a major late-stage solar project that's *already* procured under the PUC resource plan. I explain here with a former NC utility commissioner, Steve Levitas: 🔌💡 www.powerpolicy.net/p/nc-commiss...

Opinion | You May Not Be Trump’s Target This Time. But You Could Be Next.

If you read only one thing today please make it this, by the great Vanita Gupta

You May Not Be Trump’s Target This Time. But You Could Be Next

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/o...

Today's Washington Post: "The AI explosion means millions are paying more for electricity" www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

This heat wave in central NC is one of the worst I can recall... we're under extreme heat warning and it's nearly unbearable to be outside for more than a few minutes.

Over 3,000 national lab scientists & staff now face layoffs amid the Trump admin's efforts to dismantle US research and development capacity. www.eenews.net/articles/doe...

I think the hardest part for the climate left over these coming years will be the growing acuteness of our global crisis, without the social license to make policy on climate grounds in most parts of the country and probably also at the federal level. (1/2)

🔌💡

Data Centers Could Make or Break Electricity Affordability How AI factories are inflating grid costs, yet hold the key to lower rates

www.powerpolicy.net/p/data-cente...

"The next wave of energy politics will be centered around affordability," @jessedjenkins.com @janeaflegal.bsky.social told Ezra Klein.

Big opportunity for savings: if new data centers can be planned intelligently (a big if), it could offset up to ~$50 bn/yr in existing power costs by late 2020s. 🔌💡

Data Centers Could Make or Break Electricity Affordability How AI factories are inflating grid costs, yet hold the key to lower rates

Turn the problem of how much energy data centers need to the solution of when they need it and everyone wins. Or, ignore the data and the facts and everyone loses.

“Data Centers Could Make or Break Electricity Affordability” @tnorris.bsky.social ‬⁩

www.powerpolicy.net/p/data-cente...

Duke Energy says it has new performance requirements for large loads, including "mandated interruptible requirements for a specified period of time," in a filing yesterday to the NC Utilities Commission: 🔌💡 starw1.ncuc.gov/NCUC/ViewFil...

🙏