Industry Watch

Ottawa Constraints Drive IESO Tx Proposal, but Stakeholders Question Planning Record

IESO advanced draft recommendations for its Eastern Ontario Bulk Plan, including implementation-ready transmission packages for Ottawa and Belleville totaling $1.4 billion to $1.65 billion. The post Ottawa Constraints Drive IESO Tx Proposal, but Stakeholders Question Planning Record appeared first on RTO Insider .

PGE Seeks to Increase Data Center Rates by 29%

Portland General Electric asked the Oregon Public Utilities Commission to approve increased rates for data centers under a newly created customer class. The post PGE Seeks to Increase Data Center Rates by 29% appeared first on RTO Insider .

MISO 2026 Tx Package Rises to $15B

MISO’s 2026 Transmission Expansion Plan now calls for a $15.3 billion spend across 574 projects, $6 billion higher than an earlier draft of the portfolio. The post MISO 2026 Tx Package Rises to $15B appeared first on RTO Insider .

D.C. Circuit Backs 8 Years of Refunds in Drawn-out MISO ROE Clash

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld MISO transmission owners’ obligation to issue years’ worth of retroactive refunds in a lingering dispute over return on equity in the RTO. The post D.C. Circuit Backs 8 Years of Refunds in Drawn-out MISO ROE Clash appeared first on RTO Insider .

ACP Report Details Renewables’ Q1 Highlights, Lowlights

An ACP report shows the U.S. gained 6.4 GW of new utility-scale solar, wind and battery storage capacity in the first quarter of 2026, even as the renewables sector faces political challenges. The post ACP Report Details Renewables’ Q1 Highlights, Lowlights appeared first on RTO Insider .

SSC Space and NorthBase partner to expand global ground station network

Two Nordic space companies deepen collaboration amid European sovereignty push

Space Solar agrees to host Lonestar data storage aboard orbital power stations

Two ambitious space startups join forces to align with orbital data center trend

Grupo Fotones eyes €1.15bn data center campus in Murcia, Spain

The initiative plans to deploy up to 140MW of capacity

Claro Argentina launches data center Buenos Aires

The project addresses adds 650kW of IT power and a scalable architecture

Sponsored: Data center security must move beyond the perimeter

The future of data center security will be defined by systems that are layered, integrated, intelligent, and cybersecure

Massive SunZia Wind Project Starts Commercial Operation

Pattern Energy’s SunZia wind and transmission projects — which combined are the largest clean energy infrastructure project in U.S. history — are now delivering power to California customers. The post Massive SunZia Wind Project Starts Commercial Operation appeared first on RTO Insider .

Illinois Governor Pauses Data Center Incentives and Calls for Legislation

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced a pause in new data center incentives and called on the General Assembly to pass legislation on their development after legislators failed to move a bill before adjourning for the summer. The post Illinois Governor Pauses Data Center Incentives and Calls for Legislation appeared first on RTO Insider .

Lane-Brayman JV wins $1B Ohio River tunnel job

The tunnel is one of three key parts of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania s, Clean Water Plan, which will reduce billions of gallons of sewer overflow.

Brookfield Cuts D.C. Staff, Looks To Sell Part Of The Yards

One of the world's largest commercial real estate investors has dramatically reduced its presence in the nation's capital. Brookfield has been offloading D.C.-area office buildings for months, and a source who left the company now tells Bisnow it has...

DayOne secures $4.5 billion Series C funding

APAC operator secures billions in new funding ahead of rumored IPO

Digital Realty plans data center in Seattle, Washington

Inner-city facility eyed at former Bed Bath Beyond store

Chicago Bears Will Move Stadium To Indiana

After years of speculation, the Chicago Bears have decided where to develop their new stadium, and the result isn't in Illinois' favor.

Brookfield Raises $900M For Fund Targeting CRE Liquidity Needs

Brookfield Asset Management has raised hundreds of millions for its second real estate fund targeting recapitalizations and equity solutions. The Brookfield Real Estate Solutions II fund raised approximately $900M from global investors including public...

Judge halts Google data center project in Minnesota

Minneapolis-based Ryan Cos., the general contractor on the project, estimates delays on Project Skyway in Pine Island could cost about $5 million or more.

Michigan senator proposes one-year state-wide moratorium on data centers

Text of bill matches proposal submitted by Republican colleague earlier this year

Hotel Performance Surges After Memorial Day Weekend Slump

Hotels across the U.S. experienced their slowest Memorial Day weekend in six years, recording their lowest occupancy rates since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, but they bounced back almost immediately in the days that followed.

Quant trading firm Jane Street plans data center - report

Company is looking to build and finance its own data center

Earthquake-proof prefab Rome data center built in five weeks

The €28m facility was built using 100 percent recyclable materials, Italian media said

CorScale targets 2029 launch date for 140MW data center campus outside London, UK

Company to start groundworks next month

SK Telecom to sell minority stake in Ulsan data center - report

Minority stake could go for around $1.3bn

European Commission unveils Chips Act 2.0 to further strengthen chip industry across the continent

Builds on progress made by legislation the bloc first introduced in 2023

Infotelecom launches data center on Balearic Island of Mallorca

New facility located in the Son Castelló industrial park

N.Y. Sets Stage for Nation’s First Statewide Data Center Moratorium

The New York Assembly and Senate approved a one-year pause on new environmental permits for data centers with a peak load greater than 20 MW. The post N.Y. Sets Stage for Nation’s First Statewide Data Center Moratorium appeared first on RTO Insider .

TPG Joins Norges, Canadian Pensions On $2B Grocery-Anchored Bet

TPG Real Estate, two Canadian pension fund managers and Norway’s sovereign wealth fund have teamed up to make a bet on U.S. grocery-anchored retail valued at $2B.

Bernie Sanders says US public should take 50% stake in OpenAI and Anthropic

Seizing the means of (slop) production

Canada’s QScale breaks ground on second building at Québec campus

New building to offer 60MW and 600kW rack densities

Fervo Energy faces transmission constraints in the West, analysts say

Management has highlighted [transmission constraints] as a risk factor ... citing behind-the-meter as a potential solution, said Jefferies equity analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith.

Edged tops out second building at Chicago data center campus, Illinois

72MW pre-leased building due live next year

600,000 sq ft "Project Swan" data center could be built in Lakeland, Florida

But may encounter planning difficulties

Steel imports down 30% in 2026 as tariffs bolster US production

Raw and finished steel reached 1.87 million net tons for the month of April, driven by increased imports of tin plate, metallic coatings and other goods, according to census data.

PPL secures PUC approval to introduce new rate class structure for large load users, including data centers

Will see bills for industrial customers in Pennsylvania increase by $332.54 per month

First phase of Medusa subsea cable goes live between France and Tunisia

Orange's ViaTunisia branch of cable system goes live

China's nuclear power capacity nearly doubled since 2016

From 2016 to 2024, China's nuclear generation capacity increased 76% (24 GW), based on our International Energy Statistics (IES) data. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency's Power Reactor Information System (PRIS), China added an additional 1.1 GW of nuclear power capacity in 2025 and 2.2 GW in 2026 (through May). China is continuing to build out its nuclear gene

DOE orders OUC’s 465-MW coal unit in Florida to continue running

Although Florida is at normal risk for long-term energy adequacy, the unit near Orlando needs to remain online partly to help serve potential data centers in the state, the department said.

Punch List: 7 firms win NASA work, Turner finishes $557M UC Berkeley build

Plus, details emerge in California s high-speed rail private partnership, and Trimble starts a U.S. tour of its tech.

Trump administration announces $850M to modernize US coal capacity, build 2 new plants

New coal-fired plants in Anchorage, Alaska, and Mt. Storm, West Virginia, would total 2.85 GW. They would be the first new U.S. coal plants to come online since 2013.

DOE’s Alex Fitzsimmons on energy markets, AI, renewables and more

Utility Dive caught up with the associate deputy secretary of energy at the Edison Electric Institute conference in Las Vegas, where the dominant theme was balancing demand growth with affordability.

Payroll employment increases by 172,000 in May; unemployment rate unchanged at 4.3%

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 172,000 in May, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3 percent. Job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, local government, and health care. Employment in financial activities declined.

DOE Awards up to $850M to Build, Upgrade, Restart Coal Plants

The Trump administration will issue new rounds of grants to bolster coal-fired power plants and is blocking the shutdown of yet another fossil facility shortly before its retirement. The post DOE Awards up to $850M to Build, Upgrade, Restart Coal Plants appeared first on RTO Insider .

D.C. PSC Looks into Affordability amid Spiking Prices in PJM

The D.C. Public Service Commission held a hearing on affordability, which has been a growing issue as the wholesale price of power in PJM has spiked because of growing demand. The post D.C. PSC Looks into Affordability amid Spiking Prices in PJM appeared first on RTO Insider .

ERCOT Board Endorses Batch Zero Rule Changes

ERCOT’s Board of Directors has approved the grid operator’s rules for studying as much as 100 GW of large load interconnection requests that CEO Pablo Vegas said could serve as a template for other RTOs and ISOs. The post ERCOT Board Endorses Batch Zero Rule Changes appeared first on RTO Insider .

WRAP DAM Task Force Explores Realignment Between SPP, WPP

The Western Resource Adequacy Program could undergo a realignment aimed at optimizing the program to work with day-ahead markets by more clearly defining the roles SPP and the Western Power Pool have in administering WRAP. The post WRAP DAM Task Force Explores Realignment Between SPP, WPP appeared first on RTO Insider .

PacifiCorp Asks to Decommission Fall Creek Dam

PacifiCorp asked the California PUC for approval to decommission the Fall Creek dam, the last operating hydroelectric facility in the Klamath Hydroelectric Project. The post PacifiCorp Asks to Decommission Fall Creek Dam appeared first on RTO Insider .

MRO Warns of Uncertainty in Summer Assessment

MRO warned that widespread wind generation in the region will cause challenges for grid operators this summer. The post MRO Warns of Uncertainty in Summer Assessment appeared first on RTO Insider .

Business Group Calls on N.J. to ‘Suspend’ Greenhouse Gas Initiative

One of New Jersey’s most prominent business trade groups has launched a print, video and lobbying campaign that calls for the state to “suspend” its participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, saying it has led the state to use expensive, high-emission electricity. The post Business Group Calls on N.J. to ‘Suspend’ Greenhouse Gas Initiative appeared fir

Texas's New Grid Rules Could Put Billions In Data Center Projects At Risk

Texas’ primary electricity grid operator signed off on new rules for data center operators and developers that could have billions of dollars of repercussions if finalized. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is looking to establish new criteria...

Boston City Councilors Weigh Whether Parking Reform Can Boost Housing Production

As the affordable housing crisis rages on, Boston City Council members are looking to eliminate parking minimums that have historically added high costs to housing production. During a Thursday morning public hearing, city councilors, housing advocates...

Bechtel picked for $4.69B Sabine Pass LNG expansion in Louisiana

The contractor will add the multibillion-dollar job to its portfolio of other LNG work across the South.

Data Center Lobbying Muscle Shifts To Statehouses As Local Battles Boil

After pouring more than $1.1B into federal lobbying the past two years, Big Tech is increasingly redirecting its political firepower to the places where its data center projects actually live or die: statehouses and municipalities. That pivot is accelerating...

Ulta To Open $400M, 4-Story Times Square Flagship

Ulta Beauty has agreed to pay $400M to lease an entire building in the Times Square bowtie for its new experiential flagship.

McCarthy Building Cos. Taps Palantir To Streamline Jobsite Operations

One of the 20 largest general contractors in the U.S. is leveraging Palantir Technologies Inc.’s artificial intelligence to streamline its workflows.

REPORT: Peter Thiel's Family Office Breaks Miami Rent Record With Brickell Lease

Billionaire Peter Thiel, who founded Palantir Technologies and PayPal Holdings, snapped up space that just became available in Miami's most sought-after office building — and paid a record price in the process.

$10B Compass And Anywhere Merger Faces State Antitrust Probe

The New York attorney general’s antitrust office is investigating the merger between Compass and Anywhere Real Estate that created a $10B residential brokerage titan. The merger was announced in September but closed earlier this year, creating a giant...

'Tax The Rich' Politics Boosting South Florida's Office Construction Pipeline

New office construction has trailed off nationwide, but business-friendly politics are allowing South Florida to buck the trend.

Goldman Sachs To Launch Tokenized Real Estate Fund With Apex, Archax

Goldman Sachs is hopping on the tokenized real estate fund train. The investment bank tapped fund servicing company Apex Group and digital asset exchange company Archax to tokenize real estate, according to a release.

Walbridge breaks ground on $16B Stargate data center

Around 700 union tradespeople will work under a project labor agreement on OpenAI and Oracle s 250-acre campus, according to the project announcement.

April job openings increase; hires and total separations decrease

The number of job openings increased to 7.6 million in April. Hires and total separations decreased to 5.1 million and 5.0 million, respectively.

Payroll employment edges up by 115,000 in April; unemployment rate unchanged at 4.3%

Total nonfarm payroll employment edged up by 115,000 in April, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3 percent. Job gains occurred in health care, transportation and warehousing, and retail trade. Federal government employment continued to decline.

March hires increase; job openings unchanged and total separations change little

The number of hires increased to 5.6 million in March. Job openings were unchanged at 6.9 million while total separations changed little at 5.4 million.

Compensation costs up 0.9% Dec 2025 to Mar 2026 and up 3.4% over the year ending Mar 2026

Compensation costs increased 0.9 percent for civilian workers, seasonally adjusted, from December 2025 to March 2026. Over the year, total compensation rose 3.4 percent, wages and salaries rose 3.4 percent, and benefit costs rose 3.6 percent.

Payroll employment increases by 178,000 in March; unemployment rate changes little at 4.3%

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 178,000 in March, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.3 percent. Job gains occurred in health care, in construction, and in transportation and warehousing. Federal government employment continued to decline.

February hires decrease; job openings and total separations change little

The number of hires decreased to 4.8 million in February. Job openings and total separations were both little changed at 6.9 million and 5.0 million, respectively.

January job openings and total separations change little; hires unchanged

The number of job openings was little changed at 6.9 million in January. Hires were unchanged at 5.3 million while total separations changed little at 5.1 million. Annual levels and rates for 2025 are now available.

Payroll employment edges down 92,000 in February; unemployment rate changes little at 4.4%

Total nonfarm payroll employment edged down by 92,000 in February, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.4 percent. Employment in health care decreased, reflecting strike activity. Employment in information and federal government continued to trend down.

Payroll employment rises by 130,000 in January; unemployment rate changes little at 4.3%

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 130,000 in January, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.3 percent. Job gains occurred in health care, social assistance, and construction, while federal government and financial activities lost jobs.

Compensation costs up 0.7% Sep 2025 to Dec 2025 and up 3.4% over the year ending Dec 2025

Compensation costs increased 0.7 percent for civilian workers, seasonally adjusted, from September 2025 to December 2025. Over the year, total compensation rose 3.4 percent, wages and salaries rose 3.3 percent, and benefit costs rose 3.4 percent.

December job openings trend down, hires and total separations change little

The number of job openings continued to trend down to 6.5 million in December. Hires and total separations were both little changed at 5.3 million.

Both payroll employment (+50,000) and unemployment rate (4.4%) change little in December

Both total nonfarm payroll employment (+50,000) and the unemployment rate (4.4 percent) changed little in December. Employment continued to trend up in food services and drinking places, health care, and social assistance. Retail trade lost jobs.

November job openings and hires change little; total separations unchanged

The number of job openings was little changed at 7.1 million in November. Hires were little changed and total separations were unchanged at 5.1 million each.

Both payroll employment (+64,000) and unemployment rate (4.6%) change little in November

Total nonfarm payroll employment changed little in November (+64,000) and has changed little since April. The November unemployment rate was 4.6 percent, little changed from September. Employment rose in health care and construction in November, while federal government continued to lose jobs.

Compensation costs up 0.8% Jun 2025 to Sep 2025 and up 3.5% over the year ending Sep 2025

Compensation costs increased 0.8 percent for civilian workers, seasonally adjusted, from June 2025 to September 2025. Over the year, total compensation rose 3.5 percent, wages and salaries rose 3.5 percent, and benefit costs rose 3.5 percent.

October job openings unchanged; hires and total separations change little

The number of job openings was unchanged at 7.7 million in October. Hires and total separations were both little changed at 5.1 million.

Payroll employment edges up 119,000 in September; unemployment rate changes little at 4.4%

Total nonfarm payroll employment edged up in September (+119,000), and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.4 percent. Employment trended up in health care, food services and drinking places, and social assistance. Transportation and warehousing and federal government lost jobs.

August job openings unchanged; hires and total separations change little

The number of job openings was unchanged at 7.2 million in August. Hires and total separations were both little changed at 5.1 million.

Both payroll employment (+22,000) and unemployment rate (4.3%) change little in August

Both total nonfarm payroll employment (+22,000) and the unemployment rate (4.3 percent) changed little in August. A job gain in health care was partially offset by losses in federal government and in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction.