AI
Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge: More BS on Electricity Prices
In his State of the Union address, President Trump announced a new “ratepayer protection pledge” from technology companies.
Last night, in his State of the Union address, President Trump announced a new “ratepayer protection pledge” from technology companies as his latest effort to respond to rising electricity prices across the country. In his brief remarks on the pledge, the President said that it “obligated” the technology companies to provide for their own power, …
Continue reading “Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge: More BS on Electricity Prices”
CONTINUE READINGA.I. Pollution in the Air — and the Public Comments
The Drain is a weekly roundup of environmental and climate news from Legal Planet.
Artificial intelligence has already replaced some artists, translators, and podcast hosts. Now it’s coming for… concerned citizens? That’s right. AI-assisted campaigns have started flooding the inbox of government agencies that seek to engage with the public. Do you remember last June when the South Coast Air Quality Management District Board killed two common sense clean …
Continue reading “A.I. Pollution in the Air — and the Public Comments”
CONTINUE READINGAnother White House Power Grab: PJM
Why emergency power auctions for the AI overlords will do little to reduce electricity prices.
Fresh on the heels of the White House takeover of Venezuela and its “uninvestable” oil sector, President Trump, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and the rest of the National Energy Dominance Council have turned their sights on the largest wholesale electricity market in the United States – PJM. Their concern is high prices, which continue to …
Continue reading “Another White House Power Grab: PJM”
CONTINUE READINGFederalism, AI, and the Environment
Trump’s efforts to overturn state laws are part of his effort to consolidate power and suppress opposition.
State authority isn’t unlimited, but current legal doctrines give it broad scope. So, apparently, does national politics, given that Congress recently rejected a proposal to preempt state AI laws and has never seriously considered preempting state climate laws.
As we all know, Congress has found it extraordinarily difficult to enact legislation on major issues. The executive branch, under the Supreme Court’s “major questions doctrine,” lacks the power to fill the gap. That leaves only the states to save us from paralysis when major new issues arise. That may not be ideal, but it’s better than nothing.
Making the Most of Data Centers
Photo: chaddavis.photography
Data centers are driving energy demand at unbelievable scale. Regulators should use that to build infrastructure we desperately need.
If you’d asked me three years ago, I would never have guessed energy bills would be a salient political issue in 2025, let alone one that politicians anchor their entire campaign around. But of course, the cost of energy is quite different today than it was a few years ago. Electricity prices have increased faster than (already-high) inflation since 2022, leaving ratepayers on the hook for ever steeper …
Continue reading “Making the Most of Data Centers”
CONTINUE READINGData Center Permitting: A Roadmap
AI is fueling a surge in data center construction. Here’s what you need to know.
Data Centers have significant environmental footprints, which is going to raise several permitting issues except for those using clean energy sources. The permitting issue are mapped out in this post. The Trump Administration is clearly going to do its best to free the industry from environmental limits. We’ll see how successful that is going to be.
CONTINUE READINGJoin Our Mailing List
Climate policy is changing rapidly. Stay in the loop with expert analysis via email Monday - Friday.
