AI infrastructure spending keeps ratcheting higher, with top cloud providers now forecast at $830 billion in 2026 capex, while local governments from Utah to Arizona to Kansas tighten scrutiny around water, zoning, and moratoria. In this episode: Top stories: 1. North American AI Data Center Expansion Drives 2026 CapEx of Top Nine CSPs to US$830 Billion, Says TrendForce — PR Newswire https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/north-american-ai-data-center-expansion-drives-2026-capex-of-top-nine-csps-to-us830-billion-says-trendforce-302764269.html 2. State agencies start scrutinizing Box Elder County data center project — FOX 13 News https://www.fox13now.com/news/great-salt-lake-collaborative/state-agencies-start-scrutinizing-box-elder-county-data-center-project 3. Data crunch: Planning Commission hears proposals for new data center zoning code — KGUN 9 Tucson News https://www.kgun9.com/news/community-inspired-journalism/midtown-news/data-crunch-planning-commission-hears-proposals-for-new-data-center-zoning-code 4. Sedgwick County Commission extends moratorium on data centers for 90 more days — KWCH https://www.kwch.com/2026/05/06/sedgwick-county-commission-extends-moratorium-data-centers-90-more-days/ Feedback? Email [email protected]

AI infrastructure stress is moving from forecasts to operations: NERC is ordering action on volatile computational loads, AEP now sees 63 GW of new demand by 2030, and site constraints from water to China chip supply are tightening. In this episode: Top stories: 1. NERC issues Level 3 alert, mandates action to address data center load losses — Utility Dive https://www.utilitydive.com/news/nerc-issues-rare-level-3-alert-over-data-center-load-losses/819295/ 2. AEP Reports First-Quarter 2026 Earnings, Reaffirms Guidance and Increases Five-Year Capital Plan — PR Newswire https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aep-reports-first-quarter-2026-earnings-reaffirms-guidance-and-increases-five-year-capital-plan-302762002.html 3. 2,300+ protest filings challenge water application for data center — FOX 13 News https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/box-elder-county/more-than-2-300-protest-filings-challenge-water-application-for-box-elder-county-data-center 4. As Nvidia goes to zero in China, Beijing races to fill the void — DIGITIMES Asia https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20260505VL208/nvidia-ceo-market-jensen-huang-chips.html Feedback? Email [email protected]