Policy / Opening up
United States (federal)
Federal policy is pushing to speed up data centre permitting and large-load grid connection.
A July 2025 executive order directs agencies to speed federal permitting for large data centre projects, and the Department of Energy is offering federal land for AI data centres. In June 2026 the federal energy regulator ordered all six regional grid operators to justify or reform how large loads such as data centres connect. This entry covers federal measures only: siting, retail power rules and tax treatment are set largely by states and differ widely.
Power and grid
FERC has also required PJM to set transparent rules for loads paired with generation and approved the Southwest Power Pool expedited large-load process; rules still vary by grid region.
The rules and programmes
| Instrument | Kind | Status | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Order 14318, Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure Read the cited source | Policy | in force from 23 July 2025 | Covers projects above $500 million, above 100MW of new load or designated by a secretary; directs new environmental-review exclusions, federal land access and financial support. |
| DOE federal sites for AI data centres Read the cited source | Programme | in force from 24 July 2025 | Four sites named (Idaho National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Paducah, Savannah River) for private partners to build data centres and generation. |
| FERC show cause orders on large load interconnection Read the cited source | Grid | consultation from 18 June 2026 | The June orders initially gave all six regional grid operators 60 days to defend or reform tariffs. That original deadline is not a current-status finding: the separately reviewed NYISO abeyance order below changed the timetable for its proceeding. Outcomes across the six proceedings remain unverified here. |
| NYISO large-load show cause proceeding: 14 August 2026 abeyance order Read the cited source | Grid | consultation | FERC order 196 FERC 61,130 in EL26-69-000 set responses for 16 November 2026 and answers for 16 December 2026. Paragraph 11 says that if NYISO or the transmission owners make an FPA section 205 filing addressing the show cause order's preliminary findings on or before 16 November 2026, the response obligation of each respondent that made such a filing is suspended and the proceeding stays in abeyance pending further Commission direction. This is the August order's timetable, not verification of later filings or present obligations. Before relying on it for a project, check the current docket, respondent and applicable tariff with NYISO or FERC. Order reviewed 12 November 2026; this does not refresh the other federal records. |
Recorded compute programme evidence
ComputeFinder has 7 programme records tagged US. The list is alphabetical, not a ranking. Records may describe current, future, past or non-application programmes. A region tag is not a decision about eligibility, availability or award; open the evidence page and check the current official terms.
Are US cities pausing data-centre approvals?
Some local governments have recorded pauses, but the scope and evidence differ. Our accounts cover Oklahoma City's extension notice, Oakland's recorded extension decision and Center Point's final reading in unapproved minutes. These are separate local actions, not a complete list or a nationwide rule. None of these accounts establishes that an existing compute service has stopped.
Planning a site? Obtain the current operative text, its coverage and effective date, and a project-specific determination from the city before committing. Use the moratorium evidence checklist to check thresholds, exceptions and expiry. If you need compute now, compare compute routes, then confirm availability and workload requirements with the provider.
This context draws on the separately reviewed accounts above. It does not refresh the older federal records or verify a particular project's permission.
Related developments
- Westlake, Texas council approves data-centre developer's agreement, town says
- New Era expects TCDC power in Q3 2027 and targets service readiness in Q4 2027
- Evanston's November agenda lists a proposed one-year data-centre moratorium
- Oklahoma City reports extension of its large-data-centre application pause
These news accounts have their own sources, dates and limits. They do not refresh the older evidence on this page.
Checked against the primary sources linked above on 2 October 2026. Due for review by 1 January 2027. This is a summary, not legal advice. If something is out of date, tell us.
Cite this page
ComputeFinder. (2026, October 2). United States (federal): data centre and compute policy. ComputeFinder. Retrieved November 14, 2026, from https://computefinder.net/policy/united-states
BibTeX
@misc{computefinder_policy_united_states,
title = {United States (federal): data centre and compute policy},
author = {{ComputeFinder}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://computefinder.net/policy/united-states}},
note = {Page last checked 2 October 2026. Retrieved 14 November 2026.}
}Page link: https://computefinder.net/policy/united-states. Page last checked 2 October 2026. Retrieved 14 November 2026. Cite the provider or the primary source for any fact you rely on.
Other places
How we label evidence
- Official source the body that made the rule or the data says so
- Two sources agree independent sources match
- One source, not confirmed a single report or claim
- Watching a signal, not shown as a fact
Related company disclosures
- SpaceX reports 1.7GW of nameplate compute in third-quarter results. Event 20 October 2026. Place context only; these company measures do not change the policy record.