Originally published at: AI’s Insatiable Hunger: $5 Trillion Grid Crisis, Nuclear Revival, and Voter Backlash – Peak Prosperity
Energy
OpenAI plans up to 250 gigawatts of compute capacity by 2033, requiring electricity equivalent to powering all of India and generating carbon emissions twice those of ExxonMobil, while procuring 30 million GPUs annually. Discussions at the Edison Electric Institute Financial Conference highlighted surging power demands of AI infrastructure, with U.S. utilities facing a $5 trillion investment gap to accommodate data center growth, including 44 new nuclear plants. Utility executives noted challenges in labor, supply chains, and affordability, and called for regulatory reforms such as state involvement in resource adequacy and long-term contracts with hyperscalers featuring minimum takes and termination fees. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has stated the company is exploring renewable energy sources to mitigate environmental impacts.
Public opposition to the data center boom is increasing across the U.S. Voters in Georgia elected Democrat Peter Hubbard to the Public Service Commission on a platform addressing utility costs and environmental footprint, marking the first Democratic statewide win there in nearly two decades. Resistance blocked or delayed $98 billion in projects from March to June 2025, including a $17 billion proposal near Atlanta halted by a moratorium. Criticism from Senators Josh Hawley and Representatives Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene highlighted concerns over electricity rates, water use, and tax exemptions. In Virginia, lawmakers are advancing bills to curb development amid court challenges voiding zoning approvals for over 30 facilities in Prince William County. Nearly 50,000 signatures were collected against local projects. Industry representatives, including the Data Center Coalition, have countered that such facilities support millions of jobs and generate substantial tax revenue.
A National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners task force recommends expanding natural gas pipelines and storage, creating a gas readiness forum, and enhancing market tools for extreme weather performance to address grid reliability amid rising electricity demand and reliance on gas-fired generation. The report, informed by the 2021 Winter Storm Uri blackouts in Texas and 2022’s Storm Elliott outages, emphasizes harmonization between gas and electric sectors without endorsing a dedicated Gas Reliability Organization or major changes to market schedules and force majeure contracts. Utilities are pursuing multi-year engineering partnerships and all generation technologies, including renewables and bridge solutions, to meet needs while addressing bill transparency and affordability. Environmental groups, such as the Sierra Club, have argued that the recommendations could hinder transitions to renewable energy.
Lastly, Ed Dowd highlighted a new iPhone “feature” that selectively charges using lower-carbon electricity, describing it as a potential precursor to broader digital control mechanisms and noting that its phrasing could evolve from voluntary to restrictive. Apple has described the feature as optional and aimed at promoting sustainable energy use.
Health
The first confirmed U.S. death from alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-borne allergy to red meat, occurred when a 47-year-old man suffered fatal anaphylaxis four hours after eating a hamburger, following symptoms after camping and steak consumption. Blood tests confirmed sensitization to alpha-gal, a sugar in mammalian meat, likely from lone-star tick bites mistaken for chigger bites. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates up to 500,000 Americans affected, with cases rising due to expanding deer populations, reforestation, and warmer climates enabling tick spread northward. The syndrome was identified in the early 2000s and linked to ticks by decade’s end, causing delayed allergic reactions; it has been documented since the 1990s in the U.S. and earlier in Australia. The CDC has noted that while serious, the condition affects a relatively small percentage of the population and requires further research.
Geopolitics
Israel is pursuing a new 20-year security agreement with the United States, doubling the typical 10-year term of previous pacts and including provisions aligned with “America First” priorities, to secure support from the Trump administration. The deal would maintain annual military aid at $4 billion, similar to the current Memorandum of Understanding that expires in 2028. This follows a Trump-brokered ceasefire in Gaza and Congress’s approval of additional emergency aid in 2024 under the Biden administration. Shifting sentiments within Republican circles include criticism from Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene on U.S. funding to Israel. Growing pushback from young conservatives highlights tensions in the bilateral relationship, while Israeli officials have emphasized the strategic importance of enhanced U.S.-Israel cooperation amid evolving geopolitical challenges, according to reports from Reuters.
Privacy & Surveillance
Seven additional UK police forces, including Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and Surrey, will deploy facial recognition vans funded by the Home Office, expanding a pilot program in use by the Metropolitan Police, South Wales, and Essex. The vans scan crowds and match faces against watchlists of wanted individuals and those under court orders, such as sex offenders, with non-matching images deleted within a second and deployments publicized with signage. The Metropolitan Police reported a 0.0003% false alert rate from over three million scans between September 2024 and 2025. Civil liberties groups cited past inaccuracies and racial biases, though officers noted software improvements. Police officials, including the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, have defended the technology as a vital tool for public safety with enhanced accuracy.
Samsung’s budget Galaxy A and M series phones come pre-installed with AppCloud, an Israeli-developed application embedded in the operating system that cannot be fully removed. This prompted backlash over privacy concerns related to potential surveillance capabilities. Samsung has stated that the app is designed to improve user experience by facilitating access to applications and does not collect data without consent.
US Politics
President Trump withdrew his endorsement of Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and mocked Representative Thomas Massie’s remarriage 15 months after his wife’s death, following their support for a discharge petition to force a House vote on releasing all Jeffrey Epstein files, which Trump and GOP leaders oppose. The petition, introduced by Massie with Representative Ro Khanna, reached 218 signatures to bypass Speaker Mike Johnson’s control, with the vote scheduled for Tuesday and additional Republicans expected to join. Trump’s attacks included claims about Massie’s re-election polls and Greene’s unreturned calls. Greene shared texts urging the files’ release, citing Bill Clinton’s Epstein ties, and accused Trump of distracting from economic priorities. Greene also indicated that threats against her have increased since falling out of favor with Trump, with private security firms issuing safety warnings amid Trump’s aggressive rhetoric. Both lawmakers faced pro-Israel opposition for criticizing U.S. aid to Israel. Some conservative commentators on X have criticized Trump’s actions as alienating key supporters.
Newly released emails show Jeffrey Epstein live-texted Delegate Stacey Plaskett during a 2019 House Oversight Committee hearing with Michael Cohen, providing information on Trump associates like executive assistant Rhona Graff amid Democratic efforts to highlight Trump’s past friendship with Epstein, which ended in a falling out. Plaskett questioned Cohen on Trump Organization figures and received Epstein’s input on topics like college transcripts, describing the texts as part of broader communications during the session and emphasizing her record against sexual assault and trafficking. Plaskett’s office has maintained that the communications were aimed at factual inquiry and do not indicate undue influence.
Economy
U.S. foreclosure filings rose 20% year-over-year in October 2025, reaching 36,766 properties with notices of default, auctions, or repossessions, marking the eighth consecutive monthly increase and a 3% uptick from September. Florida, South Carolina, and Illinois led in filings, while Texas, California, and Florida saw the most completed foreclosures, increasing distressed inventory. Activity remains below historical peaks, with less than 0.5% of mortgages in foreclosure compared to over 4% during the Great Recession, and 4% delinquent versus 12% at the crisis height. FHA loans show delinquencies above 11%, which could lead to more foreclosures in 2026. Factors include falling home prices, rising insurance premiums, and higher borrowing costs, though renting remains cheaper than buying in most major metros when accounting for taxes, maintenance, and mortgage payments. Some banks have reported efforts to modify loans and avoid foreclosures, according to Reuters.
Sources
Israel Seeks 20-Year US Defense Deal with “America First” Provisions
Israel is seeking a new 20-year security agreement with the U.S. — doubling the usual term and adding “America First” provisions to win the Trump administration’s support, Israeli and U.S. officials tell Axios.
OpenAI’s AI Empire: 250GW Power Hunger Equals India’s Grid, Doubles ExxonMobil’s CO2, Demands 30 Million GPUs Yearly
“As Silicon Valley CEOs anxiously figure how much computing it will take to propel artificial intelligence forward, the real question we should be asking is how much more artificial intelligence the planet can take.”
Source | Submitted by Rodster
US Foreclosure Filings Surge 20% in October, But Experts Downplay the Alarm
So, no foreclosure tsunami to worry about,
Source | Submitted by PhilH
A Sharp Escalation: Americans Revolt Against Data Center Boom
“This was a sharp escalation,” the report concludes, with eight projects fully blocked and nine delayed in just three months.
NARUC Task Force: Expand Gas Pipelines and Storage to Safeguard US Electric Grid Reliability
The United States needs additional natural gas pipeline infrastructure and storage opportunities to reliably meet the growing demand for energy
US Utilities Confront Data Center Boom: Soaring Bills, Grid Reforms, and $5T Investment Hurdles
Power is the obvious bottleneck that could derail the entire AI boom cycle.
UK Expands Facial Recognition Vans to Seven More Police Forces
A new fleet of facial recognition vans are to be rolled out by seven police forces across the UK in an expanded pilot programme.
Trump’s Epstein Files Backlash: Revokes Greene Endorsement, Mocks Massie’s Remarriage
It’s likely no coincidence that both reps — Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie — were among four Republicans who signed a discharge petition to force a floor vote on a bill that would compel the DOJ to release all its Epstein files.
Bitten Farewell to Burgers: First US Death from Tick-Borne Meat Allergy
The first death in the US from alpha-gal syndrome was announced this week.
Epstein’s Live Texts with Democrat During Anti-Trump Hearing: Democratic Dirt-Digging Backfires
So Jeffrey Epstein was live-texting a Democrat lawmaker during a ‘get Trump’ hearing. Right…
From Ally to Enemy: Threats Surge as Leader I Elected Stokes the Fire
The man I supported and helped get elected.
Ed Dowd Sees iPhone’s Clean Energy Charging as Harbinger of Digital Control Grid
Clean Energy Charging: In your region, iPhone will try to selectively charge when lower carbon emission electricity is available.
Samsung’s Budget Phones Harbor Unremovable Israeli Spyware
Unremovable Israeli Spyware Found on Samsung Devices
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: Reuters, Sam Altman, Data Center Coalition, Sierra Club, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Samsung, Stacey Plaskett’s Office, and CDC.
