The Grid

A 60 Minutes report examines how the race to build artificial intelligence is driving a rapid expansion of data centers across the United States, and the growing resistance from communities where the facilities are being built. Residents have raised concerns over energy demands, water use, noise and strain on local power grids, turning data center approvals into a contested political issue in towns across the country.

Climate discussions in New York are being reshaped by two mounting pressures: rising energy costs for households and industry, and the surging electricity demand from artificial intelligence data centres. As negotiators and business leaders weigh decarbonisation goals against affordability and grid reliability, the rapid growth of AI is complicating plans to phase out fossil fuels, forcing climate policy to account for a new wave of power consumption.

Qualifying for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix has taken place in Baku, setting the grid for the latest round of the Formula 1 season. The session is drawing big attention from motorsport fans following the official highlights, with more than six million people engaging with the coverage as they look to see who took pole position on the demanding street circuit.

Russian strikes are increasingly directed at Ukraine's data centers, infrastructure that underpins government services, banking, and communications. The attacks fit a broader campaign against Ukrainian energy and digital infrastructure, aiming to disrupt state operations and public life. Analysts note that destroying data facilities can be harder to reverse than hitting the power grid, raising concerns about the long-term resilience of Ukraine's digital state.

A commission says it will examine the strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and assess corresponding vulnerabilities in the United States power grid. The move links the war in Ukraine to concerns about the resilience of American energy systems, with officials expected to review what the attacks reveal about risks to critical infrastructure and how similar threats could be addressed at home.

The European Union is moving to limit the energy and water consumption of data centres, in a bid to control the resources used by the fast-growing digital infrastructure sector. The proposal comes as data centre demand surges, driven by cloud computing and artificial intelligence, raising concerns about strain on electricity grids and water supplies across member states.

A new 60 Minutes report highlights growing opposition to data centers across the United States, with residents from across the political spectrum joining forces to resist large-scale construction projects in their communities. Concerns cited include strain on power grids and water supplies, noise, and the impact on farmland and neighborhoods, making the issue an unusual point of bipartisan agreement.

Kimi Antonelli crashed during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, bringing his session to an early end. The incident drew immediate attention as teams and fans focused on grid positions for the street-circuit race, where mistakes are costly and qualifying results often shape the outcome.

New figures show the world added around 690 gigawatts of solar power capacity in 2025, according to reporting by pv magazine. The total underscores the continued rapid expansion of solar energy worldwide, as installations keep outpacing forecasts driven by falling costs and strong demand in major markets. Industry observers are weighing what the record-scale buildout means for grids, fossil fuel demand and global climate targets.

The rapid expansion of AI is driving a surge in data centre construction, and with it a sharp rise in electricity demand that power grids are struggling to meet. Coverage highlights the tension between tech companies' growth plans and energy sustainability, raising questions about how the industry will source clean power at scale.

Data centers, power plants and chip facilities for artificial intelligence are being built across the United States at a pace that could surpass any previous infrastructure boom in the country's history. Analysts point to massive capital commitments from tech companies racing to secure computing power, raising questions about electricity demand, grid strain and whether the investment will pay off.

A growing coalition is pushing Congress to approach wildfires as a national-security challenge rather than solely a natural disaster or land-management problem. The effort argues that increasingly severe fire seasons strain military and emergency resources and threaten infrastructure, energy grids and communities, warranting the kind of coordinated federal planning reserved for security threats.

Wired argues that the growing public backlash against data centers, driven by their strain on power grids, water supplies and local communities, has so far stopped short of a serious reckoning with their climate impact. The piece contends that debates over new data center construction focus on costs and land use while largely ignoring the carbon footprint of the AI boom that is accelerating their expansion.

Climate Week NYC has wrapped up, with coverage pointing to two major themes: the build-out of smart electricity grids and growing attention to ocean resilience. Businesses, governments and campaigners used the annual New York gathering to announce commitments and debate how to finance cleaner energy systems and protect marine ecosystems.

A Washington Examiner report argues that the rapidly growing energy and cooling demands of AI data centers could eventually push this infrastructure into orbit, where solar power is constant and heat can be radiated away. The idea is drawing attention amid rising concern over the strain AI computing places on terrestrial power grids and land.

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel has spoken about his life since retiring from the sport and addressed whether he might return to the grid. He says he remains open to opportunities but is content away from full-time racing. Motorsport fans are sharing his comments as they speculate about a possible comeback.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has put forward a proposal for GB Grid, a new state body intended to galvanise and accelerate investment in the UK's energy infrastructure. It would be funded using money already allocated to GB Energy. The argument is that energy infrastructure is a natural monopoly that has been disrupted, and that public coordination could speed up badly needed grid investment.

McLaren driver Lando Norris has revealed he apologised to Franco Colapinto after saying the Argentine driver "shouldn't be in Formula 1". Norris said he reached out to Colapinto to express regret for the comment, which drew attention amid ongoing debate about the grid's driver line-up and the pressure on newer arrivals fighting to keep their seats.

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel has spoken about his future and life since retiring from the sport, offering an update on whether he might return to the grid. The comments were carried by multiple motorsport and sports news outlets, drawing attention from fans eager to know whether the German could come back to racing or has fully closed that chapter.

F1 driver Franco Colapinto has been handed a five-place grid penalty for the next race, the Bahrain Grand Prix, following a multi-car crash. The punishment has stirred debate in the paddock, with Lando Norris reportedly angry about the incident and saying Colapinto should have been given a race ban rather than a grid drop. Fans and commentators are weighing in on whether the sanction was sufficient.

Hitachi Energy plans to double its US production capacity for small and medium-sized power transformers, according to Utility Dive. The expansion comes as American utilities face long lead times and shortages of grid equipment amid rising electricity demand from data centers and electrification, making domestic manufacturing capacity a growing point of policy and industry concern.