Welcome to IBEW 177

CA: Abundance Clashes with Affordability

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/17/tech-savvy-california-is-still-figuring-out-data-centers-00411668

California faces a complex challenge balancing its abundance of technological innovation with the affordability concerns surrounding data center development. The state continues to grapple with regulatory frameworks, environmental considerations, and community impacts as tech companies seek to expand their data center footprint. The ongoing debate highlights tensions between economic development, environmental sustainability, and housing affordability in tech-heavy regions. Source: politico.com
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A Growing Bipartisan Embrace of Fire Technology

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2025/06/26/the-california-climate-export-catching-fire-in-trumps-d-c-00428840

An examination of how California's wildfire prevention and management technologies are gaining bipartisan political support at the federal level. The article explores how innovative fire suppression and prevention technologies developed in California are being adopted nationwide, with growing backing from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. This technology transfer represents a rare area of political consensus on climate-related infrastructure and public safety investments. Source: politico.com
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Program Increases Renewable Training, Prepares Young Workers for Electrical Careers (EW)

https://ibew.org/electrical_worker/illinois-program-increases-renewable-training-prepares-young-workers-for-electrical-career/?ref=ew

Illinois IBEW program expands renewable energy training opportunities for young workers, preparing the next generation of electricians for careers in the growing clean energy sector while addressing workforce development needs.
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CoreWeave Commits $6B to PA Data Center

https://www.reuters.com/business/coreweave-commits-6-billion-ai-data-center-pennsylvania-2025-07-15/

AI cloud computing firm CoreWeave announces plans to invest up to $6 billion in a new data center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, starting with a 100 MW facility expandable to 300 MW, as part of the Trump administration's push to maintain US leadership in AI technology.
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Google to Invest $25B in Data Centers, AI Infrastructure Across Largest US Electric Grid

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/15/google-to-invest-25-billion-in-data-centers-ai-infrastructure-in-pjm.html

Google announces a massive $25 billion investment over two years to expand data centers and AI infrastructure across the PJM Interconnection grid, covering 13 states and creating significant opportunities for electrical workers in the nation's largest electric grid region.
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Data Centers in Tents: Meta Races to Catch Up

https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-mark-zuckerberg-building-ai-data-centers-tents-catch-up-2025-7

Meta is reportedly building AI data centers in temporary tent structures as CEO Mark Zuckerberg rushes to catch up in the artificial intelligence race, highlighting the urgent infrastructure demands driving the industry.
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