Latest news with #SB6
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas House OKs bill to boost power grid protection, strengthen ERCOT's emergency authority
A proposal to grant regulators increased oversight of electric generation and transmission, along with equipping the state power grid's manager with tools to better forecast energy needs, passed the House on Tuesday. The legislation is now heading back to the Senate to review the lower chamber's changes to the bill. Senate Bill 6 is the Legislature's latest effort to reduce the risk of widespread outages during peak demand times by allowing the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the state power grid, to cut power to large-scale consumers during an emergency. That should encourage power-hungry operations like data centers to develop their own backup systems, said Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, who sponsored the bill in the House. "You certainly don't want large-load customers that sometimes are data-centered for military operations, or whatever, to just be without power when there's an emergency," King said during the floor debate. According to the bill analysis, SB 6 focuses on four main objectives: Ensuring that transmission costs are properly allocated. Establishing measures to protect grid reliability. Promoting transparency and credibility in load forecasting. Protecting residential customers from outages by requiring large loads to share the load-shed obligation during shortages. More: Renewables bailed out Texas' grid earlier this month. Now the GOP wants to restrict them In March, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas told a congressional committee that Texas set an all-time peak demand record of 85,508 gigawatts in the summer of 2023 — a record he expects the state will break sooner than later because, in part, large-scale consumers are bringing their operations to the Lone Star State. "Texas has become a magnet for industries that require increasing amounts of electricity, from semiconductor plants to data centers, broad industrial growth and large-scale industrial electrification in the Permian Basin," Vegas told the House subcommittee on energy. Under the bill, ERCOT would be able to expedite connecting large consumers to the grid, provided they install on-site backup power sources. The House and Senate versions of SB 6 are different, so unless the Senate agrees with the House's changes, a conference committee will have to reconcile the two versions into a final bill. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas House OKs power grid-protection bill, boosts ERCOT's authority
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bills targeting library operations die in Alabama Legislature
Books in the young adult section of the Ozark - Dale County Library on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023 in Ozark, Ala. Two bills -- one that could have subjected librarians to obscenity prosecutions and one that would have allow city or county governments to remove library board members failed to move in the Alabama Legislature's recently-concluded 2025 regular session. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector) The battles over library content continue throughout Alabama. But two bills that could have affected how libraries operate failed to move in the Legislature's 2025 session. One measure, HB 4, would have applied state obscenity laws to public libraries and their employees if there were materials judged to be obscene in the children's section. The other, SB 6, would have allowed cities and counties to terminate members of the library boards without cause. The battles over library books began in Alabama in 2023, after a parent using the Autauga-Prattville Library complained about a book in the children's section that had inclusive pronouns. Similar fights have erupted all over the state. Supporters of restrictions say they are trying to get obscene material out of children's sections of the library. Critics say those restrictions target books with LGBTQ+ characters and themes and not necessarily obscene books. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'Our devoted and beleaguered librarians will not have to worry about being handcuffed and jailed for refusing to censor books under House Bill 4, the 'Jail the Librarians bill,' which never made it out of its House Committee,' said Read Freely Alabama, a group that opposes new library restrictions, in a statement shortly after the 2025 legislative session ended. 'Furthermore, the bill which would have politicized our library boards even more (SB 6) once again died before making it to the Senate floor.' Multiple messages seeking comment were left with Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, the sponsor of HB 4, and Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, the sponsor of SB 6. Amy Minton, a member of the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) Board and an advocate of additional restrictions on library content, said in an interview that she was 'a little surprised that people get so upset about the obscenity or sexually explicit materials.' 'If they don't have it in the library, why do they get so upset about them being asked to be moved, whether through a law or policy?' she said. HB 4 would have amended the state's obscenity laws to make public libraries and librarians criminally liable for making materials that are sexually explicit or harmful to minors available. The legislation would have allowed residents served by the library to file a notice with the staff that they believe there are sexually explicit or inappropriate materials found in sections of the library dedicated to minors. Libraries would then have to relocate the materials to the adult section or remove them entirely. They can also notify the public that they have determined the item is in the appropriate section, which any resident can then challenge. Noncompliance would have subjected librarians to prosecution under Alabama obscenity laws, which can be as severe as a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $30,000 fine. SB 6 would have mandated that library board members be appointed to a four-year term and that members could be removed from the board with a two-thirds of the members of the governing body, either the city or county, agree by vote. The House Judiciary Committee never considered HB 4. SB 6 got approval from the Senate County and Municipal Government Committee, which Elliott chairs, but did not come to a vote on the Senate floor. Mooney's obscenity bill was approved further along in the 2024 session, receiving approval from members of the House and even getting approved in the Senate Children and Youth Health Committee before it stalled in the Senate. Elliott's legislation was approved in the Senate and the House County and Municipal Government Committee where it remained as the session ended. Advocates of restrictions have succeeded in convincing the Alabama Public Library Service, the state agency that oversees local library funding, to impose policy changes that favor more restrictions. In March, the APLS Board suspended funding to the Fairhope Public Library in Baldwin County while also voting to have Pack terminated after Minton made a motion. Supporters of the library raised money to replace the lost funding and defended the library at city council and APLS meetings. Alabama GOP chair John Wahl, who currently serves as chair of the APLS Board, said at a meeting earlier this month that members are waiting for the Fairhope Public Library to complete its review of the books that parents challenged before resuming funding to the library. 'We know that the fight isn't over. As we speak, a stacked and extreme Alabama Public Library Service board continues its assault on libraries, stripping funding from those who will not cave to their demands,' Read Freely Alabama said in the statement. 'And even today, as this session closes, opposing forces are already crafting legislation for a chosen representative to prefile, and are regrouping to continue their assault on our freedoms and beloved public institutions at the next legislative session.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers propose new bill to lessen crypto industry's impact on households: 'We need to rise to the challenge'
Cryptocurrency miners and data centers have found a home in Texas because of abundant, cheap electricity. However, as CCN reported, newly proposed legislation could create stricter standards to limit these activities because they are raising utility rates for households. Cryptocurrency regulations focus on energy consumption, tax considerations, and environmental impacts. Multiple states have laws to manage the energy demand of crypto mining and to protect miners from regulations that might otherwise treat them like data centers. Regulations develop frameworks for the cryptocurrency industry and can help prevent legal issues like money laundering and fraud. Lawmakers in Texas have suggested new regulations on cryptocurrency mining out of concern for residents' energy bill costs. Mining consumes vast amounts of energy, and Texas has been able to supply that energy through natural gas, wind turbines, and other sources. Major mining operations have built enormous facilities in Texas because of dynamic pricing schemes that offer discounted rates and the opportunity to sell unused power back to the grid. However, these activities have contributed to strain on the Texas grid. Proponents of the Texas bill say that large mining operations now require more oversight to stabilize the energy grid. A big reason for this is that while crypto miners generate tens of millions of dollars monthly, ordinary Texas citizens are seeing their utility bills rise. "I think we need to rise to the challenge of getting the needed generation onto the grid," said bill sponsor Senator Charles Schwertner, per the Texas Tribune. "But there is eventually a prioritization that could be discussed, and obviously Texans — their families, their homes, their businesses — are the most important individuals, the most important clients for electricity." Laws like the proposed Senate Bill 6 (SB6) in Texas have the potential to keep utility costs affordable for homeowners while ensuring crypto operations are accountable for their energy usage. Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Electricity used to power mining and AI data centers affects energy prices for people completely unaffiliated with those industries. To keep energy affordable in Texas and worldwide, it is crucial to invest in renewable energy, promote energy conservation, and improve energy efficiency. These goals can be achieved by developing clean energy infrastructure, implementing policies that reward clean energy adoption, and embracing smart grid technologies to minimize energy waste. Meanwhile, greener digital currencies and eco-friendly blockchains can help reduce excessive energy consumption. With energy demands growing rapidly due to advancing technology, it is important to balance profits with climate sustainability and people's livelihoods in our communities. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's AI infrastructure plans could face delays due to Texas Republicans
Donald Trump's plans to expand infrastructure to produce artificial intelligence in the US could face years of delays with the Republican-controlled Texas statehouse poised to pass legislation that imposes regulatory hurdles on data centers. The Trump administration earlier this year announced that a joint venture called Stargate would construct a total of 20 data centers to provide computing power for AI as part of an effort to help the US compete against China for leadership of the technology and spur investors to pursue AI projects. The companies behind Stargate – OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle and MGX, an investor backed by the United Arab Emirates, which together have pledged up to $500bn – chose Texas, with its loose regulation and pre-existing energy infrastructure for the first data center. But the construction of future data centers to support Trump's AI agenda faces headwinds as a result of the Texas legislation SB6, which introduces new regulatory measures including a six-month review process in addition to the existing 6-18 month evaluation period with the goal of protecting its own power grid in the face of storms. The effects of the proposed bill are two-pronged: the regulatory measures could result in a maximum 24-month approval process, while the requirement to pay additional fees to the Texas grid operator and install backup generators would dramatically raise construction costs. That could lead tech companies to scale back planned construction of data centers in the state, according to equity analysts. Stargate, for instance, has started building its first 10 data centers in Abilene, Texas, but it is unclear if the second set of 10 would be subject to the bill. And if tech companies do not build in Texas, they might not build the data centers at all, directly hampering Trump's AI initiative. Other states, from Wyoming to Wisconsin to Tennessee, have courted those construction projects, but lack the infrastructure that exists in Texas. 'These heavy-handed mandates risk stifling investment on exactly the infrastructure needed for Trump's AI initiative,' said Vance Ginn, who was the associate director of economic policy at the White House office of management and budget in Trump's first term and is based in Texas. The bill, which is one of the legislative priorities of the Texas lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, and has already passed the Texas state senate, is aimed at avoiding a repeat of the effects of Winter Storm Uri in 2021, which knocked out power for days, leaving millions without heat. The storm, during which at least 246 people died, exposed reliability issues with the state's energy grid. 'Senate Bill 6 actually ensures President Trump's Stargate Plan is a success,' Patrick said in an emailed statement. 'We have made clear we are in lockstep with the President on his goal to make America number one, and dominate China on AI, data centers, and cryptocurrency. 'These industries understand they will have to supply their own power needs and are diligently working toward that goal so costs are not disproportionally shifted onto residential and small business customers,' Patrick said, noting that Trump endorsed him for re-election as recently as Thursday. Republicans currently control the Texas state legislature and even critics of the bill acknowledge that another widespread power outage is perhaps the one political issue that has the potential to undercut the GOP majorities. Several government officials and those who controlled the power grid were fired or replaced after the failure. But the prospect of greater regulatory hurdles, coupled with the global slowdown in computing infrastructure development and the additional macroeconomic uncertainty stemming from increased construction costs related to Trump's tariff plan, may have far-reaching ramifications. Microsoft has already abandoned a number of data center projects in the US that included lease cancellations and deferrals, according to a research note from analysts at TD Cowen, although Microsoft said it was still on track to invest $80bn in data centers in its fiscal year that ends in June. The Alibaba chairman, Joe Tsai, last month also warned of a potential bubble with data centers, suggesting new projects may exceed demand for AI services. Meanwhile, Trump's measures currently impose a 10% tariff on all imports and a new 125% tariff on imports from China announced on Wednesday. Many components used in data centers, from raw materials like steel to goods such as electrical transformers, are produced outside the US. The investments into AI come as DeepSeek, a disruptive new Chinese company, emerged seemingly out of nowhere in January and released a series of AI models that were developed in a fraction of the time of those made by US companies, causing alarm in Silicon Valley over the broader global AI arms race.
The Guardian
15-04-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Trump's AI infrastructure plans could face delays due to Texas Republicans
Donald Trump's plans to expand infrastructure to produce artificial intelligence in the US could face years of delays with the Republican-controlled Texas statehouse poised to pass legislation that imposes regulatory hurdles on data centers. The Trump administration earlier this year announced that a joint venture called Stargate would construct a total of 20 data centers to provide computing power for AI as part of an effort to help the US compete against China for leadership of the technology and spur investors to pursue AI projects. The companies behind Stargate – OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle and MGX, an investor backed by the United Arab Emirates, which together have pledged up to $500bn – chose Texas, with its loose regulation and pre-existing energy infrastructure for the first data center. But the construction of future data centers to support Trump's AI agenda faces headwinds as a result of the Texas legislation SB6, which introduces new regulatory measures including a six-month review process in addition to the existing 6-18 month evaluation period with the goal of protecting its own power grid in the face of storms. The effects of the proposed bill are two-pronged: the regulatory measures could result in a maximum 24-month approval process, while the requirement to pay additional fees to the Texas grid operator and install backup generators would dramatically raise construction costs. That could lead tech companies to scale back planned construction of data centers in the state, according to equity analysts. Stargate, for instance, has started building its first 10 data centers in Abilene, Texas, but it is unclear if the second set of 10 would be subject to the bill. And if tech companies do not build in Texas, they might not build the data centers at all, directly hampering Trump's AI initiative. Other states, from Wyoming to Wisconsin to Tennessee, have courted those construction projects, but lack the infrastructure that exists in Texas. 'These heavy-handed mandates risk stifling investment on exactly the infrastructure needed for Trump's AI initiative,' said Vance Ginn, who was the associate director of economic policy at the White House office of management and budget in Trump's first term and is based in Texas. The bill, which is one of the legislative priorities of the Texas lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, and has already passed the Texas state senate, is aimed at avoiding a repeat of the effects of Winter Storm Uri in 2021, which knocked out power for days, leaving millions without heat. The storm, during which at least 246 people died, exposed reliability issues with the state's energy grid. 'Senate Bill 6 actually ensures President Trump's Stargate Plan is a success,' Patrick said in an emailed statement. 'We have made clear we are in lockstep with the President on his goal to make America number one, and dominate China on AI, data centers, and cryptocurrency. 'These industries understand they will have to supply their own power needs and are diligently working toward that goal so costs are not disproportionally shifted onto residential and small business customers,' Patrick said, noting that Trump endorsed him for re-election as recently as Thursday. Republicans currently control the Texas state legislature and even critics of the bill acknowledge that another widespread power outage is perhaps the one political issue that has the potential to undercut the GOP majorities. Several government officials and those who controlled the power grid were fired or replaced after the failure. But the prospect of greater regulatory hurdles, coupled with the global slowdown in computing infrastructure development and the additional macroeconomic uncertainty stemming from increased construction costs related to Trump's tariff plan, may have far-reaching ramifications. Microsoft has already abandoned a number of data center projects in the US that included lease cancellations and deferrals, according to a research note from analysts at TD Cowen, although Microsoft said it was still on track to invest $80bn in data centers in its fiscal year that ends in June. The Alibaba chairman, Joe Tsai, last month also warned of a potential bubble with data centers, suggesting new projects may exceed demand for AI services. Meanwhile, Trump's measures currently impose a 10% tariff on all imports and a new 125% tariff on imports from China announced on Wednesday. Many components used in data centers, from raw materials like steel to goods such as electrical transformers, are produced outside the US. The investments into AI come as DeepSeek, a disruptive new Chinese company, emerged seemingly out of nowhere in January and released a series of AI models that were developed in a fraction of the time of those made by US companies, causing alarm in Silicon Valley over the broader global AI arms race.
