Keaton Peters
@keatonpeters.bsky.social
880 followers 240 following 38 posts
Energy Reporter for Straight Arrow News. Previous bylines in Canary Media, The Texas Tribune, Inside Climate News, Government Market News, Austin American-Statesman and others. keatonpeters.com
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keatonpeters.bsky.social
APPROVED in a 4-1 vote: 2.3 gigawatts of gas plants to power Meta's data center

Shouts of "shame" and "you sold Louisiana out" were heard as the Louisiana Public Service Commission went to recess following the vote.

Critics argued ratepayer protections were insufficient.

san.com/cc/entergy-l...
Entergy Louisiana wants fast approval of gas plants to power Meta data center
Louisiana’s electric utility company Entergy wants a fast-tracked approval of three new gas-fired plants to power a Meta data center.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
Hey #energysky

I’m a reporter writing about increasing electric #utility bills. Here to connect with people who have personal experience with their power being turned off for an upcoming story.

Please reach out at [email protected]. I want to know how disconnection impacted you

#electricbill
keatonpeters.bsky.social
The Trump administration generated $22.8 million from the latest auction to lease public land for oil and gas exploration. But a policy decreasing royalty payments returned to taxpayers has reignited debate over oil and gas drilling on public lands.
#energysky
#climate
#oil
san.com/cc/oil-and-g...
Oil and gas leases earn $22.8 million, but some taxpayers doubt benefits
The Trump Administration generated $22.8 million in revenue from the latest auction to lease public land for oil and gas exploration.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
A new Meta subsidiary recently applied to trade wholesale power on the #electricgrid.

The move lets Meta sell power it purchased for data centers back to the grid when electricity prices spike.

“That’s money that the rest of us wind up paying,” a source said.

#energysky
san.com/cc/metas-nex...
Meta’s next step: Starting a company to buy and sell power for its data centers
On Sept. 16, a new Meta subsidiary filed an application with federal regulators to trade wholesale power on the electric grid.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
Offshore wind is on life support and its opponents want to pull the plug on existing projects.

“It’s throwing a monkey wrench into an economic development machine” one source said.

In New Jersey, public support for wind energy is sinking as voters look for a new governor

san.com/cc/offshore-...
Offshore wind runs aground facing Trump policies, sinking public opinion
Offshore wind projects in New Jersey and across the country are struggling to survive a variety of Trump administration policy changes.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
“We have a choice to make about how we meet that increase in electricity demand,” report author from @rewiringamerica.bsky.social told me.

The report says heat pumps, rooftop #solar and #batteries can meet 100% of projected data center electric load thru 2029.

#energysky

san.com/cc/rooftop-s...
Rooftop solar, batteries, heat pumps will help the grid handle data centers: Report
A new report suggests home energy upgrades like solar power, batteries and heat pumps can offset the electricity demand from data centers.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
Across the country, regional utility companies and grid operators are singing the same song: America needs more power.

But are the #energy needs of AI data centers overhyped?

Many researchers think so, and I asked them why in a new article this morning.

#energysky
san.com/cc/researche...
Researchers question AI data centers' 'eye-popping' energy demands
Regional grids are projecting major increases to energy demand, but some experts are skeptical of the AI data center growth projections.
san.com
Reposted by Keaton Peters
keatonpeters.bsky.social
ConocoPhillips will cut 20-25% of staff, joining Shell, Chevron and others in laying off workers.

Coming as oil prices are low and companies have consolidated

“There’s this growing consensus that we may be seeing the end of production growth in the U.S.,” my source said.

san.com/cc/oil-and-g...
Oil and gas layoffs deepen as ConocoPhillips cuts its workforce
ConocoPhillips will lay off 20-25% of its workforce, joining a growing number of oil and gas companies that have announced job cuts.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
U.S. investment in renewable energy decreased $20.5 billion in the first half of 2025 compared to the end of 2024, a 36% drop.

Uncertainty over U.S. policy is the main driver, and is expected to cost jobs and U.S. competitiveness. #energy #energysky #climate #renewables

san.com/cc/private-i...
Private investment drops as US shifts renewable energy policy
Renewable energy investors slowed the flow of funding into the U.S. in the first half of 2025, while global investment hit an all-time high.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
Three gas power plants totaling 2.3 gigawatts rushed through for Meta data center.

The project was approved without waiting for an official recommendation from an administrative law judge, who reviewed hundreds of pages of testimony and oversaw in-person hearings in July.

san.com/cc/louisiana...
Louisiana moves ahead with contentious gas power plants for Meta data center
The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved plans by Entergy to build three new gas power plants for a Meta data center.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
#EnergySky

The core issue was who would pay for new gas infrastructure if Meta backpedals its data center plans, or leaves after the initial 15-year contract.

Entergy also did not complete competitive bidding.

Davante Lewis, the sole NO vote, said those issues were "too bitter for me to swallow"
keatonpeters.bsky.social
APPROVED in a 4-1 vote: 2.3 gigawatts of gas plants to power Meta's data center

Shouts of "shame" and "you sold Louisiana out" were heard as the Louisiana Public Service Commission went to recess following the vote.

Critics argued ratepayer protections were insufficient.

san.com/cc/entergy-l...
Entergy Louisiana wants fast approval of gas plants to power Meta data center
Louisiana’s electric utility company Entergy wants a fast-tracked approval of three new gas-fired plants to power a Meta data center.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
APPROVED in a 4-1 vote: 2.3 gigawatts of gas plants to power Meta's data center

Shouts of "shame" and "you sold Louisiana out" were heard as the Louisiana Public Service Commission went to recess following the vote.

Critics argued ratepayer protections were insufficient.

san.com/cc/entergy-l...
Entergy Louisiana wants fast approval of gas plants to power Meta data center
Louisiana’s electric utility company Entergy wants a fast-tracked approval of three new gas-fired plants to power a Meta data center.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
If approved today, the commission will be going around an ongoing process. An administrative law judge reviewed testimony in July. The next step is for the judge to issue a nonbinding recommendation to commissioners. That hasn't happened yet.

The PSC was not expected to decide until the Fall.
keatonpeters.bsky.social
A final vote hasn't happened yet, but the Public Service Commission stands ready to approve Entergy's gas plants, based on comments made by commissioners so far during the discussion.
keatonpeters.bsky.social
The Louisiana Public Service Commission is meeting now to discuss Entergy's plan for 2.3 gigawatts of natural gas power plants for the largest proposed data center in the U.S., a $10 billion Meta facility.

The gas power plants have faced backlash from consumer advocates

san.com/cc/entergy-l...
Entergy Louisiana wants fast approval of gas plants to power Meta data center
Louisiana’s electric utility company Entergy wants a fast-tracked approval of three new gas-fired plants to power a Meta data center.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
The Entergy plan faced legal disputes in front of an administrative law judge earlier this year. Most of the plaintiffs reached a settlement with Entergy, but the Union of Concerned Scientists and Alliance for Affordable Energy did not, arguing that ratepayers will end up paying for the plants.
keatonpeters.bsky.social
The Louisiana Public Service Commission is meeting now to discuss Entergy's plan for 2.3 gigawatts of natural gas power plants for the largest proposed data center in the U.S., a $10 billion Meta facility.

The gas power plants have faced backlash from consumer advocates

san.com/cc/entergy-l...
Entergy Louisiana wants fast approval of gas plants to power Meta data center
Louisiana’s electric utility company Entergy wants a fast-tracked approval of three new gas-fired plants to power a Meta data center.
san.com
Reposted by Keaton Peters
jswatz.bsky.social
Good journalism makes trouble. @keatonpeters.bsky.social and other reporters requested data on cryptocurrency mining from the TX Public Utility Commission, which said nope, seemingly on behalf of the industry. The A.G. said to release it. Now the PUC is suing Paxton. san.com/cc/exclusive...
Exclusive: SAN reporter's inquiry into Texas' Bitcoin mines triggers lawsuit
The Public Utility Commission of Texas wants to block the release of data on Bitcoin mining, citing terrorism concerns.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
I asked the Public Utility Commission of Texas for information on registered cryptocurrency mines across the state.

The commission said they can't release it because... Terrorism?

Now the PUC is suing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to keep the information confidential.
san.com/cc/exclusive...
Exclusive: SAN reporter's inquiry into Texas' Bitcoin mines triggers lawsuit
The Public Utility Commission of Texas wants to block the release of data on Bitcoin mining, citing terrorism concerns.
san.com
Reposted by Keaton Peters
emfoxhall.bsky.social
Leitha confirms that a volunteer fire department chief called at 4:22 a.m. asking for a Code Red -- which is an alert the county can push to subscribers. He said a sargeant approved that a minute later.

But the Code Red didn't go out until 5 a.m. www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/t...
As the floods hit, Kerrville officials’ messages show lack of information about what was coming
Lawmakers plan to hear testimony Thursday in Kerr County. Questions remain about how state and local entities responded to flood warnings.
www.texastribune.org
keatonpeters.bsky.social
Can Trump deliver cheap gas AND "drill, baby, drill"? There's a catch: Low prices consumers want at the pump make more drilling unprofitable. Oil industry needs about $75/barrel to seriously expand drilling. So far, it's not happening. For @san.com.web.brid.gy

san.com/cc/trumps-pu...
Trump's push for cheap gas and 'drill, baby, drill' are at odds, experts say
Trump has repeated calls to “drill, baby drill” and lower costs at the gas pump, but cheap gas could stop oil companies from drilling more.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
UN chief tells Big Tech: Power your AI data centers with 100% clean energy by 2030. But with data centers set to consume as much electricity as Japan, can renewables really keep up with AI’s massive appetite?
Answers and more questions in my latest for @san.com.web.brid.gy

san.com/cc/can-data-...
Can data centers run on 100% renewable energy? The UN thinks so
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Big Tech to run data centers on 100% renewable energy by 2030.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
On Tuesday #Trump joined Big Tech investors at a summit unveiling billions for new #AI data centers in #Pennsylvania. But experts warn the grid faces a backlog of #energy projects waiting to connect, and a pricing structure causing skyrocketing costs.

san.com/cc/mid-atlan...
Mid-Atlantic electric grid PJM not ready for data center boom, experts warn
Big Tech wants more data centers in mid-Atlantic states like Pennsylvania and Virginia, but experts say the PJM electric grid isn’t ready.
san.com
keatonpeters.bsky.social
Electricity bills have been rising.

Is it because of data centers? Supply chain woes for power plants? Tariffs? Federal policy changes? Or is the problem deeper, lying in how markets are structured? We have answers in a new piece for Straight Arrow News

san.com/cc/data-cent...
Data centers, costly grid upgrades lead to high electricity bills in 2025
Many Americans had to crank up their AC units this week, and the cost of staying cool is higher due to rising electricity bills.
san.com