Here’s what you should know today:

• COOLING, TECH, AND POWER:  DC’s look to go direct-to-nuclear, Green concrete the next big thing?, and a new CO2 storage system

• CAPITAL MARKETS: CBRE’s ‘State of the Market’ report, Abu Dhabi investing in Yondr, and an AI play by AMD

• NEW BUILDS: Novva comes out of stealth in AZ, Cogent is switching up T Mobile sites, and ‘Blueprint’ gets tax breaks in Austin

🤖 Cooling, Tech, and Power

Ducking the Grid? Data Centers Go direct-to-nuclear

Dominion Energy wants data centers next to its Connecticut nuclear power plant.

They’re seeing the growing trend of nuclear power operators teaming up with tech giants to solve increasing energy demands. This strategy is creating waves across the U.S., with similar deals being considered in states like Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Texas.

Amazon made headlines earlier this year by buying thousands of acres near a Talen Energy nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. They plan to build 15 data centers powered directly by the nuclear facility.

The $650 million land deal included a “behind-the-meter” power agreement, allowing AWS to buy electricity directly from the plant, bypassing the regional grid entirely. 
The arrangement has quickly become a blueprint that other energy companies are eager to replicate.

Financially, these behind-the-meter deals are attractive for data center operators and nuclear facilities. The power plants get long-term agreements at higher rates, while data centers benefit by avoiding grid costs like transmission and distribution fees.

But not everyone is on board.

These deals have sparked a backlash from both utilities and grid operators who argue that such arrangements could drive up prices for regular consumers and compromise grid reliability.
Critics, including American Electric Power and Exelon, have filed objections with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, urging regulators to scrutinize or reject these deals.
They argue that such setups reallocate power that once benefited all grid users, leading to potential supply shortages and higher costs for others.

That’s fair enough.

But, despite the pushback, companies like Talen Energy and Constellation argue that these deals won’t negatively impact market prices any more than if the data centers purchased power directly from the grid. They claim that the utilities’ objections are motivated only by lost potential revenue from data centers skipping the grid altogether.

As federal and state regulators deliberate, the outcome of these nuclear-data center partnerships could significantly impact the future of energy distribution in the U.S., setting a precedent for how technology and energy sectors collaborate moving forward.

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Hyperscalers explore ‘Green Concrete’ with OCP

The Open Compute Project Foundation has partnered with leading hyperscalers Google, AWS, Meta, and Microsoft to advance the use of low-embodied carbon concrete in data center construction.

This initiative, driven by the Climate Accord's advocacy for "green concrete," aims to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of conventional concrete. According to OCP CEO George Tchaparian, "Low-embodied carbon concrete represents a significant advancement in environmentally responsible building practices."

Research conducted by Wiss, Janney, and Elstner Associates Inc. has already shown promising results, with the lowest carbon mixtures achieving over a 50 percent reduction in carbon impact. 
As AWS Director of Sustainability, Chris Walker noted, "Traditional cement used in concrete is a large source of carbon emissions, but these projects show cement substitutes can lower emissions without compromising construction." With ongoing tests and increasing adoption, green concrete could soon become a standard in sustainable building practices across the tech industry.

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🤖 More to Explore

1. Quantum computing is outracing bold expectations. Experts say quantum may outshine classical computers within five years, according to a new report by quantum firm QuEra. 
   “The first computer capable of achieving quantum advantage is slated to hit the market in 2026 and companies realize they will soon be in a race for first-mover advantage.”

2. Aliant seeks approval to test Italian CO2 Storage System. Italian startup Energy Dome has pioneered a “CO2 battery” that exploits the tiny temperature change needed to switch CO2 between gas and liquid. Compressing CO2 into a liquid "charges" the battery, while allowing it to evaporate through a turbine "discharges" the stored energy.
   Aliant Energy is seeking approval and funding to test the technology in Wisconsin. 

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👷 New Construction

‘Project Borealis’: Novva Data Centers Comes out of Stealth in AZ

Novva Data Centers is set to build a cutting-edge, 300MW data center campus in Mesa, Arizona, marking its first venture in the state.

Spanning 160 acres, this $3 billion project will unfold over the next decade, with the first phase launching in late 2026. 

The facility will feature five data halls and various sustainable technologies, including a water-free air-cooling system expected to conserve 650 million gallons of water annually—significantly reducing strain on local water resources.

The campus design prioritizes sustainability and community integration, with site-sensitive architecture, outdoor gathering spaces, and public pathways.
Innovations include biofuel-powered backup generators, recyclable piping, and heat-reducing materials. Novva aims for 100% renewable energy use and minimal water consumption, aligning with its commitment to sustainable development.

CEO Wes Swenson says, "Building sustainably, preserving natural resources, and ensuring that we are addressing community concerns are our top priorities as we begin our Mesa data center project. Novva Mesa will employ the latest technology to help us reach ambitious goals, such as 100% renewable energy use and drastically less water use when compared to a typical data center."

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👷 More Construction Deals

• Newcomer ‘Blueprint’ gets tax beaks outside of Austin: Blueprint Projects plans to invest $10 billion to develop a data center in Taylor, Texas, after receiving unanimous approval for tax breaks from the Taylor City Council. The 52-acre site will be built in phases, starting next year, with the potential to expand from 10MW to 30MW in capacity.

• Cogent has converted dozens of Sprint sites to colo data centers: Cogent Communications has converted 34 former Sprint switch sites into colocation data centers as part of its acquisition of T-Mobile's Wireline business, which included Sprint's legacy fiber network and data center assets.
  This expansion adds to Cogent's portfolio, bringing its total to 86 data centers, with plans to convert an additional 18 sites to meet the growing demand for data center capacity, particularly from Tier 2 operators, private equity, and AI compute businesses.

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-Taylor