AI buildout squeezes grids, fiber routes, and town halls — July 28, 2026

NextEra Energy’s Dominion bid and Iowa nuclear restart put utility scale at the center of AI load growth, while Verizon’s $1 billion Google fiber deal and new local siting fights show the buildout straining networks, grids, and permitting. In this episode: Top stories: 1. NextEra aims to cash in on surging power demand from data centers - E&E News by POLITICO — E&E News https://www.eenews.net/articles/nextera-aims-to-cash-in-on-surging-power-demand-from-data-centers/ 2. Verizon signs $1B dark fiber deal with Google - Telecompetitor — Telecompetitor https://www.telecompetitor.com/verizon-signs-1b-dark-fiber-deal-with-google/ 3. States cannot be granted filing rights under Section 205 of the Federal Power Act | Utility Dive — Utility Dive https://www.utilitydive.com/news/states-ferc-filing-rights-section-205-pjm/826170/ 4. Plymouth Township opposes Conshohocken data center - WHYY — WHYY https://whyy.org/articles/conshohocken-data-center-proposal-plymouth-township-pushes-back/ 5. Namyangju Mega Data Center Stalls Over Power, Water Supply - Seoul Economic Daily — Seoul Economic Daily https://en.sedaily.com/technology/2026/07/27/namyangju-mega-data-center-stalls-over-power-water-supply Follow and rate The Data Center Daily on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Feedback? Email [email protected]