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Proposed data centers could use more electricity than all Alabama homes combined, analysis shows. Who will pay? (Inside Climate News)
As data center developers eye Alabama in droves, the state’s largest electricity provider has made that claim clear: Don’t worry about your power bills. They won’t go up because of data centers.
The truth is more complicated. Whether the energy company will be able to keep that promise is an open question. The answer — a consequential one in the company’s service area, where average residential bills are the highest in the nation — is hidden among regulatory filings and secretive contracts, often obscured by heavy redactions or non-disclosure agreements signed by public officials.
The state’s Public Service Commission also is now debating how to implement the provisions of a new law that will require the board to consider whether a utility’s contract with a data center developer is in the public interest.
A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit that challenged the restructuring of Alabama’s largest water utility. The suit argued the state unlawfully seized control of Birmingham Water Works through laws that turned the utility into a regional authority, now operating as Central Alabama Water. U.S. District Court Judge Anna Manasco’s dismissal of the case was based mainly on technicalities, including that the suit did not clearly lay out what it alleged each defendant did wrong or how the court could fix it.
In Alabama lieutenant governor’s race, big plans and little ability to carry them out (Alabama Reflector)
Both major party candidates have ambitious policies for an office that has been stripped of nearly all of its powers.
Alabama Public Television board postpones meeting about funding survey (Alabama Daily News)
The Alabama Educational Television Foundation Authority, one of Alabama Public Television’s governing bodies, has postponed a meeting to approve using part of its rainy day fund for a statewide poll, according to an email to board members obtained by Alabama Daily News. The authority previously approved conducting the poll but was to have discussed the amount of the contract in a meeting Tuesday. That meeting was canceled, with no reason cited for the postponement.
4 big takeaways from downtown Birmingham mid-year report (Bham Now)
REV Birmingham released its mid-year economic report at a reception Thursday. The new data-driven economic report about downtown Birmingham covers the first half of this year and examines employment, residential growth and retail trends.
Birmingham Police Department partners with federal agencies to combat crime, boosted by $440K grant (WBRC News)
The Birmingham Police Department said its partnership with multiple federal agencies is strengthening, and as a result, lowering violent crimes in the Magic City. Those partners include the FBI, DEA, ATF, Secret Service, Postal Inspection Service, Marshals and the U.S. Attorney of the Northern District of Alabama. The collaboration has already yielded substantial results. Since 2024, federal prosecutors have worked with Birmingham police on about 165 cases, resulting in more than 130 federal indictments. The city police also has announced a 73% reduction in homicides since 2024, an improvement they credit directly to their deepened partnership with federal and state authorities.
Birmingham airport approves major runway rebuild, new parking guidance system (ABC 33/40 News)
The Birmingham Airport Authority Board on Tuesday moved forward with a series of infrastructure, passenger-experience and security projects, including a roughly $19 million reconstruction of part of Runway 24 and a new parking guidance system expected to cost up to about $4.9 million with contingencies.