The Download: Texas’s fragile AI boom and energy policy shifts

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This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. Texas was the new epicenter of the AI data center buildout. That might be kaput. Texas is the fastest-growing data center market in the US and ground zero for Big Tech’s largest AI buildouts. But the blue wave that swept the Lone Star State may jeopardize that position. Democrat James Talarico won the US Senate seat, Gina Hinojosa won the race for governor, and Democrats will take control of the Texas House for the first time in 24 years. They won after making data centers a central issue on the campaign trail. The swings could spell trouble for hyperscalers with ambitious plans in the state. They also add to growing anxiety that America’s AI buildout could stall. Here’s how the election results could reshape AI’s future. —James O’Donnell What’s next for US energy policy after the midterm elections? Democrats have taken control of both the House and the Senate, but we probably won’t see major federal climate and energy legislation while Trump remains president. The midterm elections could, however, be a big deal for energy at the state and local level. The results could shape everything from the state grid and data center development to renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions. Find out what the midterms could mean for the future of US energy. —Casey Crownhart This story is from The Spark, our weekly climate tech newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday. A new bill could change how the US builds energy infrastructure A sweeping bit of legislation designed to cut red tape could speed up the buildout of energy infrastructure in the US. On November 9, the Senate is set to vote on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA). It’s a plan that could start an overhaul of the slow, complicated process for getting energy projects approved. But some environmental groups oppose the b