The Power Connection Digest Issue #42

February 5, 2026

Peter Cook, Editor

Did I miss the memo that said the first week of February is when everyone should make huge announcements? ERCOT sends a warning to data centers, Liberty notches another win, Pacifico‘s news is worth a double-take, Natura Resources continues to lead on small modular nuclear, Meta plans on more time in the sun, PJM stands strong, great podcasts, solid analysis, and even some fun.

Oh, and The Power Connection launches a new video. And we added Gabe Collins (Rice University’s Baker Institute), Beau Egert (Conduit Power), Jeff McFarlin (Tyton Power), Kat Galloway (Bright Sky Environmental), and the great Bill Kleyman (Apolo) to the speaker lineup for the 2nd Annual Permian Power Connection Conference…alongside new sponsor Solaris Energy Infrastructure! The conference is coming together nicely!

Grab an espresso and buckle up. You are about the learn something new. Maybe several things.

I’ll be in Round Rock, Texas next week for an event. If you will be in the area and want to grab coffee, let me know!

And now, the news…

Texas Considers Revisiting Some Data Center Grid Approvals

Texas has so many massive AI-related data centers in development that its grid operator is now considering reevaluating some projects that were previously approved. This is huge.

Texas OKs the largest permitted data center campus ever built in the US

From a pure capacity standpoint, the numbers put Pacifico Energy’s GW Ranch in a different league from the multi-hundred megawatt facilities that have defined the last decade of cloud buildout.

The Power Connection Releases New Video about Permian Power Connection Conference

It's quite good. Check it out.

Liberty Energy secures 330MW power deal to support data center expansion in Texas

LPI, a Platinum Sponsor for the 2nd Annual Permian Power Connection Conference, inks power reservation and ESA with an undisclosed data center developer. Congrats!

Natura Resources Partners with NGL Energy Partners to Enable Large-Scale Produced Water Treatment with Small Modular Nuclear Reactors in the Permian Basin

The combined system will have potential application for treating produced water from oil and gas operations on an industrial scale and will generate power and clean water for potential beneficial use in data centers, agriculture, and as a new water source for other industries.

Meta procures another 176 MW of solar to support data centers

Facebook parent company Meta has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with renewable energy company Zelestra for the entire output of the 176-MWDC Skull Creek Solar Plant in Texas.

A Texas data center will open sooner thanks to an offline grid battery

While Eolian makes important upgrades to a 100-megawatt battery, the company will lend that grid connection to help CyrusOne’s data center get up and running.

Titan Awarded Contract to Supply Fuel Gas Letdown Stations for Project Matador AI Data Center

The award positions Titan as a key infrastructure partner in what is being recognized as the world’s largest integrated AI Data Center and energy campus — a project located near Amarillo.

2026: How the Permian Is Quietly Becoming One of America’s Most Strategic Data Center Regions

For decades, the Permian Basin has been America’s energy engine. In 2026, it’s starting to look like something else too: A data center platform where compute can scale because power can scale. Great insights from Jose Ortega and FO Permian (speaker and Platinum Sponsor for the Permian Power Connection Conference!).

Permian Power Equipment Expo Returning to the Midland Horseshoe Arena in June 2026, Bigger Than Ever

The equipment and the cookout were a lot of fun last year. It'll be bigger this year, so plan on showcasing your equipment!

Permian Basin in dire need of power

Every economic development opportunity that could possibly come to New Mexico — from nuclear facilities, including upgrades at Urenco USA, to data centers — all need one thing: Power.

Following the Power to the Network's Edge

From Rich Miller: NVIDIA, Prologis Lead Partnership to Bring AI Inference to Utility Substations

NERC Warns Long-Term Grid Reliability Risks Mounting from Surging Demand, Lagging Resources

The North American electric grid faces intensifying reliability risks over the next decade as demand growth driven by data centers and artificial intelligence threatens to outpace resource additions, according to the 2025 Long-Term Reliability Assessment (LTRA) released by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).

Energy Impacts Podcast: Tom Holm, Executive Director at the Energy Defense Coucil

Tom and the EDC are playing a major role in coordinating efforts to site nuclear power generation on military bases and other Trump administration projects to ensure energy readiness for the Pentagon.

Podcast: A Deep Dive on Energy and Data Centers

Arushi Sharma Frank talks power markets and energy policy on the DCR Podcast.

7 Days in January That Exposed PJM Grid Truths

Nick Deiuliis from CNX gives us a great overview of how the PJM interconnection handled the recent winter test.

Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro wants more data centers but they need to bring their own power

Gov. Shapiro said his data center proposal includes greater transparency, community outreach and water conservation.

Pennsylvania grants permit for 15 natural-gas generators to power AI data center in Clearfield County

The generators, belonging to Iron City Wells LLC, will power an AI data center.

Aligned looks to Pennsylvania, eyes two natural gas-powered facilities outside Pittsburgh

Aligned is planning to develop two natural gas-powered data center buildings within the 660-acre Shippingport Industrial Park, which is owned by the Frontier Group of Companies.

Should data centers pay up front or build their own power plants?

Grid operator PJM and governors in its footprint have different ideas on how to fix your electricity bill.

Power-hungry data centers face new scrutiny as PA lawmakers push back

Pennsylvania lawmakers moved to rein in the fast-growing data center industry, advancing legislation aimed at shielding consumers from higher utility bills as energy-intensive facilities tied to artificial intelligence and cloud computing spread across the state.

Pennsylvania House passes bill to attract next generation nuclear developments

The bill, known as H.B. 2017, would permit the state’s Department of Environmental Protection to lower fees for SMRs in the future so long as it covers oversight costs. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.

States flip old coal plants into a shockingly helpful new power source

A pattern is emerging that is about using infrastructure and workforce to solve the power crunch of the AI era.

Air power: Tallying electricity generating potential from retired military aircraft

Hey, we’re going to need whatever power we can find. Here is a creative idea.

Suhail Tayeb: Are Data Centers Solving the Wrong Problem?

If firm power, site control, and approvals are not secured early, incentives simply accelerate failure. They pull capital forward into projects that are not ready to absorb it.

Three Crazy Ideas on How Data-center Backlash Can Spur Your Innovation

Tisha Schuller provides some interesting insights and suggestions. Check it out.

Digital Infrastructure Is the New Real Estate

Traditional real estate rewarded control over scarce land. Digital infrastructure rewards control over scarce systems. Power capacity. Interconnection rights. Network adjacency. Cooling feasibility. Regulatory alignment.

Who benefits if Wall Street buys your utility? Texas-New Mexico Power customers could soon find out.

Blackstone, one of the world's largest private equity firms, is seeking permission from state regulators to purchase Texas-New Mexico Power's parent company. If approved, the acquisition would be the first time that Blackstone has ever taken an electric utility fully private.

Musk vows to put data centers in space and run them on solar power but experts have their doubts

We were planning a Space Power Connection Conference, but we found there isn’t a lot of exhibit space on the International Space Station.

PROPWR’s Secret Source of Free Power

1.21 gigawatts?! Great Scott! Just a fun LinkedIn post.

Looking to stay connected in the rapidly evolving Permian Basin? Look no further than The Power Connection Digest.

Subscribe to get our carefully curated summary of relevant news and analysis delivered to your inbox each Wednesday.

Share Your News

Send us your press releases and any other news articles which you believe would be of interest to our readers. Email submissions to power@the-power-connection.com

Advertising

Do you provide technology or services that would be beneficial to our readers? Advertise in our newsletters!