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DOE Announces Site Selection for Energy Infrastructure and AI Data Centers on Federal Lands

LCG, July 24, 2025--The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the next steps in the Trump administration’s plan to accelerate the development of AI infrastructure by using Federal lands to lower energy costs and help power the global AI race, as previously outlined in President Trump’s Executive Orders on Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure, Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security, and Unleashing American Energy.

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Enbridge Announces 600-MW Solar Project in Texas to Power Meta Data Center Operations

LCG, July 22, 2025--Enbridge Inc. (Enbridge) today announced that it has reached a final investment decision on the Clear Fork solar project located near San Antonio, Texas. Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta), has signed a long-term contract for all of the renewable power generated from the 600-MW project.

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Industry News

Aluminum Smelter to Build Power Plant in Northwest

LCG, Sept. 29, 2000Golden Northwest Aluminum Inc., a major U.S. aluminum smelter, plans to build a 248 megawatt power plant at its primary facility in Goldendale, Wash., and sell any surplus power through the Bonneville Power Administration, BPA said yesterday.

Bonneville said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the aluminum company and Goldendale Energy Inc., an independent power producer, saying that, if a final agreement can be achieved on a commercial basis, BPA will purchase power from the plant when the aluminum producer is not operating or operating at such a reduced level that it can't use all the power.

The smelter currently operates under a 10-year tolling agreement with Norsk Hydro and is estimated to have a need for 285 megawatts of electricity, but is facing future power shortages, industry sources say.

Bonneville isn't sticking its neck out. Judi Johansen, BPA administrator, said she was pleased to participate in the project, but "we will do so only on the condition that the project can be built and operated, on a forecasted basis, at no cost to our other customers or to environmental programs funded by BPA."

The reason for the agreement between Golden Northwest and Bonneville is to provide Goldendale Energy with a reliable purchaser of power not used by the smelter if the aluminum plant should reduce production due to unfavorable conditions in the aluminum market or for other reasons, a requirement for financing of the facility.

Because of Bonneville's involvement, the project must be reviewed by the Northwest Power Planning Council. Construction is expected to take about two years.

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