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The Power Connection Digest logo in full color
June 12, 2026

Peter Cook, Editor

Wow. We are so grateful to everyone who participated in the 2nd Annual Permian Power Connection Conference.  The speakers, sponsors, attendees, vendors, and facility staff were fantastic.  The speakers, participation from big name data center leaders alongside oil & gas and power generation leaders, outdoor equipment expo, sponsor-led grilling and barbeque, fantastic booths, free espresso trailer, free professional headshots, food trucks, live music, putting greens, VIP dinners, VIP cigar reception, VIP simulated golf afterglow reception, VIP suites at the ballgame, podcast interviews, local news coverage, participation from data center leaders, and all with a huge American flag flying over to celebrate our nation’s 250th.  It was really special.

 

Later today (Friday, June 12), major country music star Riley Green will be playing a concert at the Midland Horseshoe Arena.  They are expecting 11,000+ people and it is the largest event they have ever held at the Horseshoe, but I would argue that it is not the most consequential event that happened at the Horseshoe this week.  I heard deals being done on the show floor, at sponsor-hosted events, and in post-event email exchanges.  I’ve never seen anything like it.  Thank you to the 850+ attendees for being a part a truly unique event.

 

There is also plenty of news this week.  At the conference, I heard of at least two West Texas data center infrastructure deals that are signed, but as I could not find public record of them being announced, I am holding off on mentioning any details.  Stay tuned for those announcements.

 

And now, the news…

The Power Connection Digest Issue #59

Don't take my word for it. Your comments on the conference.

Here is a selection of comments from conference participants, as well as some great videos from Flipping the Barrel and other participants.

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AI data centers could bring the next power wave to Permian Basin region

“The first wave was investing in pipelines to get our product out of the Permian Basin,” said Kaes Van’t Hof, chief executive officer of Diamondback Energy, at the 2nd Annual Permian Power Connection Conference. “The power wave will be the next wave of investment.”

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New equation brings together AI, utilities and energy producers

Power availability is making Texas and the Permian Basin a magnet for data centers. That has resulted in a new equation that brings together data centers, utilities and energy producers, speakers agreed during the first panel of the second annual Permian Power Conference.

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Permian Basin power conference spotlights AI-driven data center growth

No longer just an oilfield story, the Permian Basin is becoming a story of artificial intelligence infrastructure buildout.

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2nd annual 'Permian Power Connection' conference hosts 850 attendees, leaders address need for power

Good coverage by Chris Talley's "Powering the Permian" segment on the conference.

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Texas Governor Pushes Data Centers to Fund Their Own Power

Governor Abbott, who previously championed the state as the "epicenter of AI development," now demands: Big Tech: fund your own power infrastructure or reconsider your location.

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Google Launches 1-GW-Plus Co-Located Data Center and Generation Complex in Texas Panhandle

Google and Intersect, a clean energy developer Google acquired in March 2026, have launched construction on the Meitner Energy Center, a co-located data center and generation complex in the Texas Panhandle that will integrate more than 1 GW of wind, solar, and battery storage with on-site gas-fired generation for reliability firming.

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Permian gas-pipeline debottlenecking advancing at full speed

Permian basin natural gas production continues to outpace takeaway capacity, leading to negative Waha hub prices and infrastructure bottlenecks.

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Hundreds of large data centers want to join the Texas grid. ERCOT data shows top hot spots

Data centers are not new to Texas, but the projects seeking to locate here in the coming years are much bigger and more numerous than ever before, according to data shared exclusively with the Houston Chronicle.

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Defend Texas exceptionalism. Build more data centers. | Opinion

Texas has always prospered by building the infrastructure needed for the big boom, and data centers are simply the newest front in that long-running fight.

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Texas grid flags risks as data centers, crypto sites fail voltage tests

Several large data centers and crypto facilities planning to connect to the Texas power grid ahead of peak summer demand have failed key reliability tests, raising the risk of power outages just as electricity use hits its seasonal high, according to the state grid operator.

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Permian Strategic Partnership Highlights $2.3 Billion in Regional Investment and Expanding Economic Impact Across the Permian Basin

The Permian Strategic Partnership released its 2025 Annual Report and latest Power of the Permian economic impact report, highlighting how continued investment across the Permian Basin is strengthening local communities while helping drive American energy production and economic growth nationwide.

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Texas Elected Officials, Landowners Share Growing Concerns Over Proposed New Transmission Lines

Elected officials and thousands of landowners are sounding the alarm over proposed 765- kilovolt (kV) transmission lines, part of the Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan (STEP) “to meet increasing demand for power in the region from population growth and ongoing electrification of the oil and gas industry.”

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PJM’s crisis: How data centers are rewriting the rules of the American power grid

After decades of relatively flat electricity demand, PJM now faces a surge from power-hungry computing centers that require massive, always-on electricity supplies.

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Homer City redevelopment to anchor Pennsylvania’s largest data center campus

Backed by a redevelopment plan, the property is being transformed into the largest natural gas power facility in the United States. The project is a massive undertaking, slated to require 4,000 construction workers at its peak before coming online in 2028.

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Business advocates urge informed decisions on data center developments

While data centers draw strong negative reaction in many communities, Pennsylvania’s top business advocate says he wants those communities to make informed decisions.

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Inside a Pa. data center | What happens behind the servers powering the digital world?

FOX43 took a look inside one existing data center in Dauphin County to better understand the technology behind the facilities and the concerns surrounding their growth.

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Crusoe secures 5 gigawatts of data center contracts, pauses Wyoming project

The former Bitcoin mining company now commands nearly 5 GW of AI data center capacity while shelving its ambitious Wyoming campus at a customer's request.

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