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Ohio governor pauses data center tax breaks
Ohio governor pauses data center tax breaks
Houston, 29 May (Argus) — Ohio governor Mike DeWine (R) temporarily halted new data center tax exemptions after local media reports showed the incentives cost the state over $1bn in revenue last year . DeWine directed the tax credit authority to stop accepting new requests for exemptions while the legislature's Joint Data Center Committee examines the impact of data centers on local communities. The pause only applies to tax exemption requests and is not a ban on data center development, he said this week. The move is a reversal of sorts for the Republican governor who has been a supporter of data center investment and last year vetoed a legislative attempt to end the sales and use tax exemption, enacted in 2013. "What was estimated at $300 million in lost revenue is now $1.6 billion," state representative David Thomas (R) said on social media this week. "The legislature was not told of this cost until seeing it in the newspaper. I am strongly encouraging removing this sales tax exemption fully in Ohio Law." DeWine emphasized that data centers that have received tax exemptions reported more than $27bn in capital investment in Ohio last year. The tax credit pause comes as state and local governments in other high-growth markets take a more critical look at the rapid buildout of data centers. In neighboring Pennsylvania, governor Josh Shapiro (D) recently introduced Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) standards that tie tax incentives and fast-track permitting to stricter requirements on energy sourcing, grid costs and environmental performance. Opposition is also gaining strength in Texas, where counties and cities have moved to block or slow projects through moratoriums, zoning denials and new restrictions tied to water use and land use. The pushback, spanning both Republican- and Democratic-leaning areas, comes as regulators warn that data centers could drive electricity demand to more than quadruple in coming years. Ohio has the fifth-largest number of data centers in the country, with more than 200 facilities, according to the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel. The rapid expansion has coincided with rising power costs, with Ohio households facing increases from 10-35pc last summer as regional grid operator, PJM Interconnection, paid dramatically more to secure future reserve capacity. By Jasmina Kelemen Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Local opposition builds to Texas data centers
Local opposition builds to Texas data centers
Houston, 28 May (Argus) — A wave of local efforts to slow or block data center projects is spreading across Texas, as communities push back against the rapid expansion of facilities expected to drive the state's next surge in electricity demand. Counties and cities have in recent months proposed or enacted moratoriums, denied zoning requests and imposed new restrictions, citing concerns over water use, grid strain, noise and the industrialization of rural areas. The local-level backlash has intensified since February, striking in even heavily Republican-leaning districts. Hill County, south of Dallas-Fort Worth, approved a moratorium targeting data centers and related infrastructure, prompting a lawsuit this week from developers seeking to invalidate the measure. Van Zandt County adopted a broader "green energy" moratorium, while similar proposals in Hays and Tom Green counties have been tabled following legal concerns. Hood County commissioners narrowly rejected a comparable measure. "You have counties adopting moratoriums over the objection of their own attorneys, who are saying they don't have the authority to do this," said Tina Nguyen, a litigation partner at Baker Botts, in a webinar Thursday. At the city level, San Marcos denied a rezoning request after hours of debate focused on water availability. Harlingen imposed a temporary ban on new applications, and San Angelo adopted new setback and noise requirements. Round Rock, by contrast, approved a project despite opposition. The opposition comes as Texas has become a leading hub for data center development tied to artificial intelligence, with regulators projecting electricity demand could more than quadruple by 2032. Texas currently has about 87 operating data centers and roughly 156 planned projects, positioning the state to overtake Virginia as the largest US data center market later this decade, according to industry figures presented by Baker Botts. Growing chorus of disapproval The local resistance is spilling into statewide politics and has begun to elicit rare bipartisan agreement in some corners. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller recently called for a temporary statewide moratorium on new data center development, warning that the rapid growth of such facilities is straining the Lone Star State's resources. The three-term commissioner endorsed by President Donald Trump lost his Republican primary in March and will not stand for re-election. The Democratic challenger in the race has also advocated for a statewide moratorium. Legal experts suggest counties may lack the authority to impose broad development moratoriums, raising the likelihood of further court challenges. Developers are increasingly seeking injunctions to block enforcement, warning that even temporary delays can disrupt financing and timelines. Uncertainty created by the disputes could stymie project development as Texas regulators move to integrate a surge of large electricity users. Under a new process being finalized by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), projects must certify they have secured all required local approvals or that none are needed to qualify for accelerated interconnection. "The problem is the rule doesn't distinguish between a lawful government action and an illegal one," said Juliana Sersen, a former ERCOT attorney and partner at Baker Botts. That dynamic could leave some projects unable to meet requirements if subject to local moratoriums, even if those restrictions are later overturned, she said. By Jasmina Kelemen Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Energy security fears drive diversification spend: IEA
Energy security fears drive diversification spend: IEA
London, 28 May (Argus) — The war in the Middle East, the subsequent de facto closure of the strait of Hormuz, and resulting concerns over energy security are prompting countries and companies to invest in energy diversification and electricity, energy watchdog the IEA said today. The IEA projects that global energy investment will reach $3.4 trillion in 2026, a slight lift on the year . Of this, around $2.2 trillion is set to go to power grids, storage, "low-emissions fuels", nuclear, renewables, energy efficiency and electrification, while around $1.2 trillion is expected to be invested in fossil fuels. "We are in the midst of the largest energy security crisis the world has ever faced", IEA executive director Fatih Birol said. The war is "expected to reinforce a strong prioritisation of energy security amongst decision-makers", as well as a "renewed focus on resilience and diversification", the IEA said. "Electricity-related investment remains the dominant theme in global energy spending trends", the IEA said. Investment in electricity supply and infrastructure is set to reach nearly $1.6 trillion in 2026, and increase to $2 trillion if end-use electrification is included, the report found. "Electricity is going to make even stronger inroads in the total energy mix as a response to this crisis", Birol said. The watchdog expects renewables spending to reach around $665bn in 2026, with $365bn going just to solar power, $200bn to wind and $75bn to hydropower. The annual growth in renewables spending "has moderated", in part because of declining technology costs, but also policy changes in China and the US. But "low-emissions sources" still make up more than 70pc of global power investment, the IEA said. Investment in fossil fuel supply in 2026 is set to hit just over $1 trillion, returning it "to the 2024 level", the IEA said. Oil investment is expected to drop for a third consecutive year in 2026 to below $500bn. "Uncertainty over the duration of the price spike, long project lead times, supply chain constraints and tighter offshore rig markets are limiting near-term spending responses outside the Middle East" for oil, the IEA said. But investment in natural gas is projected to grow to $330bn, the highest in a decade, driven by new LNG export projects and demand from data centres, the report found. Coal investment is also set to rise, to the highest level since 2012, at $180bn, the IEA said. The bulk of spending, at around 70pc, is in China. Some countries in Asia "may seek to keep existing coal-fired power plants operating for longer to bolster energy security", the IEA said. But it is "too early to say" what the net emission effect of this may be, Birol said today. Investments in renewables, nuclear, energy efficiency and electrification in the past decade "have tangibly improved energy security in major fuel-importing regions and reduced emissions", saving China, the EU, Japan, South Korea, southeast Asia and India around $260bn from avoided fossil fuel imports in 2025, the IEA said. The conflict "has already sparked a search for new energy export routes to reduce excessive reliance on the strait [of Hormuz]", the IEA said. And repair bills for damage to energy infrastructure are "difficult to establish" but are "set to run into tens of billions of dollars", the organisation added. Oil companies are "recalibrating their expectations for upcoming years, on the assumption that oil prices will settle back above the pre-conflict baseline as countries replenish their inventories", the IEA said. "Trust will be an important element in the energy world", in coming months and years, as governments seek reliable energy partners, Birol said. By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Dutch govt formalises renewable gas blending obligation
Dutch govt formalises renewable gas blending obligation
London, 21 May (Argus) — The Dutch government has formally submitted its renewable gas blending obligation bill to parliament, requiring suppliers to reduce a certain amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually by supplying biomethane to their end users. The bill allows for imports from other EU countries. Under the system, suppliers must submit green gas units — groengaseenheid (GGEs) — to a central registry managed by the Dutch Emissions Authority, with each unit representing 1 kg of CO2 equivalent emissions saved. Suppliers can meet their obligation — which is based on their market share of supply — by converting renewable gas guarantees of origin (RGGOs) and Proofs of Sustainability (PoS) into GGEs. To be eligible for conversion, the renewable gas must be unsubsidised and comply with RED III sustainability and GHG reduction criteria, verified through EU-recognised certification schemes such as ISCC. A key feature of the bill is that renewable gas produced in other EU member states can count towards the obligation, including gas injected into the interconnected European gas grid, provided it meets the same requirements as Dutch renewable gas. In practice, compliance would be demonstrated through the use of RGGOs and an accompanying PoS. Foreign GOOs can be transferred into the Dutch system via the Association of Issuing Bodies hub. The scheme will be aligned with the Union Database once it becomes operational for biomethane. The blending mechanism allows suppliers to pay a buyout price to cover all or part of their annual obligation not met by the provision of renewable gas, providing a ceiling price in the event of supply shortages. The proposed price is €450/t, but a sliding scale could be applied, whereby the price rises the more that a supplier uses the mechanism to cover its obligations. The proposal gives gas suppliers the option to carry over GGEs into the following calendar year, up to a maximum 10pc of the total quota, to "prevent unwanted market distortions". The overarching target of the blending obligation is to achieve a CO2 chain-emission reduction of 2.85mn t in 2031, estimated to correspond to 0.84bn m³ of production. This would be achieved through increasing annual targets, starting with a 0.63mn t CO2 chain emission reduction in 2027, corresponding to roughly 0.16bn m³ of green gas (see table) . To support long-term investments, the obligation will continue until 2035, with specific targets for 2031-2035 to be revised based on green gas production at the time. The bill will now go through the Dutch legislative process in Parliament, including the development of secondary legislation to set more detailed rules. By Giulio Bajona Green gas obligation annual targets CO₂ reduction (mn t) Year Target 2027 0.63 2028 0.92 2029 1.33 2030 1.91 2031 2.85 2032 2.85 2033 2.85 2034 2.85 2035 2.85 — Ministry of climate policy and green growth Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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