The City Council for Austin, Texas, on May 21 cleared the way for Austin Energy to contract for 299 megawatts of wind energy, 100 megawatts of local battery storage and 400 megawatts of high-efficiency natural gas peaker units.

Omaha Public Power District has signed a power purchase agreement with Nebraska-based Sandhills Energy for a new 250-megawatt facility coming to Burt County, Neb.

The Smart Electric Power Alliance recently announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors including Lora Anguay, Chief Energy Resources Officer at Sacramento Municipal Utility District, a California public power utility.

Three governors on May 27 announced actions and plans tied to data centers including a pause on consideration of any new data center tax exemption requests and requiring the reporting of energy and water use.

The Paducah Power System Board of Directors on May 11 promoted Cory Hicks as the utility’s new Chief Executive Officer to replace retiring CEO Dave Carroll. Hicks has served since last July as Paducah Power’s Chief Strategy Officer.

Springfield, Ill.-based City Water, Light and Power’s first sets of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations have been installed and are now in operation at multiple sites across Springfield.