[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":360},["ShallowReactive",2],{"header":3,"footer":26,"footer-cities":54,"content-\u002Fnews\u002Fcalifornia-lawmakers-reach-deal-on-data-center-power-rules-grid-costs":235},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":10,"extension":13,"links":14,"meta":20,"navigation":21,"path":22,"seo":23,"stem":24,"__hash__":25},"header\u002Fheader.md","Central Valley AI",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":9},"minimark",[],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":12},"",2,[],"md",[15],{"label":16,"to":17,"icon":19},"News",{"path":18},"\u002Fnews\u002F","mdi-newspaper-variant-outline",{},true,"\u002Fheader",{"title":5,"description":10},"header","ceT4J-WxxOBdbhRC-UD3fo0Npu7vWt2o2B9b_LURPmE",{"id":27,"title":28,"body":29,"copyright":33,"description":10,"developedBy":34,"extension":13,"links":41,"meta":49,"navigation":21,"path":50,"seo":51,"stem":52,"__hash__":53},"footer\u002Ffooter.md","Footer",{"type":7,"value":30,"toc":31},[],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":32},[],"© {year} All rights reserved.",{"label":35,"link":36},"Developed by",{"label":37,"to":38,"target":39,"logo":40},"Kaweah Tech","https:\u002F\u002Fkaweah.tech","_blank","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.kaweah.tech\u002Flogo-black-on-transparent-tight.svg",[42,43,46],{"label":16,"to":18},{"label":44,"to":45},"About","\u002Fabout\u002F",{"label":47,"to":48},"Privacy Policy","\u002Fprivacy-policy\u002F",{},"\u002Ffooter",{"description":10},"footer","Ras2AGS8Wuda4aBPrbAbOivaxIsAoDbo9SNCA0w554g",[55,85,123,154,181,208],{"id":56,"title":57,"body":58,"county":77,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":78,"meta":79,"navigation":21,"path":80,"seo":81,"stem":82,"tag":83,"__hash__":84},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fbakersfield.md","Bakersfield",{"type":7,"value":59,"toc":74},[60,65],[61,62,64],"h2",{"id":63},"ai-in-bakersfield","AI in Bakersfield",[66,67,68,69,73],"p",{},"Bakersfield's AI conversation sits at the intersection of municipal government, the ",[70,71,72],"strong",{},"California State University Bakersfield"," community, and the energy and ag operators that drive Kern County's economy. The city was an early mover on AI-assisted permitting and has been a recurring backdrop for parent- and teacher-led debates about classroom AI use. Articles below follow specific Bakersfield initiatives, public-meeting decisions, and Kern County workforce stories — and how they reflect national AI trends from a regional vantage point.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":75},[76],{"id":63,"depth":11,"text":64},"Kern County","Bakersfield and the surrounding Kern County are home to some of the most concrete AI-in-government experiments in the Central Valley, from instant municipal permitting to school-district debates about classroom AI. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is reshaping public services, education, and the energy and agriculture economies that dominate the region.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fbakersfield",{"title":57,"description":10},"cities\u002Fbakersfield","bakersfield","ozFL4HvDA_g7UrRE1mHbKqcS-vDLwbiH9JWVh3rB2Ac",{"id":86,"title":87,"body":88,"county":115,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":116,"meta":117,"navigation":21,"path":118,"seo":119,"stem":120,"tag":121,"__hash__":122},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Ffresno.md","Fresno",{"type":7,"value":89,"toc":112},[90,94,109],[61,91,93],{"id":92},"ai-in-fresno","AI in Fresno",[66,95,96,97,100,101,104,105,108],{},"Fresno's AI story spans several distinct ecosystems. ",[70,98,99],{},"Fresno State"," and the ",[70,102,103],{},"California State University"," system anchor a workforce-readiness push, while local ",[70,106,107],{},"Fresno Unified School District"," debates around responsible use have made the city a recurring reference point in California's K-12 AI conversation. The city's economic base in agriculture, healthcare, and public services means most AI adoption stories here are about applied uses rather than model development — a different posture than coastal tech hubs but arguably more consequential for the people living here.",[66,110,111],{},"Use the articles below to follow how AI is showing up in Fresno-area institutions and businesses.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":113},[114],{"id":92,"depth":11,"text":93},"Fresno County","Fresno is the largest city in California's Central Valley and the regional center for AI adoption across agriculture, healthcare, higher education, and small business. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is being applied — and contested — in and around the city of Fresno and Fresno County.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Ffresno",{"title":87,"description":10},"cities\u002Ffresno","fresno","gOL2xk8y9t9OV6PPxP02OjYhZFHC_Cg-VGijh_V93dI",{"id":124,"title":125,"body":126,"county":146,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":147,"meta":148,"navigation":21,"path":149,"seo":150,"stem":151,"tag":152,"__hash__":153},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fmerced.md","Merced",{"type":7,"value":127,"toc":143},[128,132],[61,129,131],{"id":130},"ai-in-merced","AI in Merced",[66,133,134,135,138,139,142],{},"Merced is a research-heavy node in the Central Valley AI ecosystem. ",[70,136,137],{},"UC Merced"," faculty appear in national conversations about AI safety, autonomous vehicles, climate modeling, and pediatric health applications, while the ",[70,140,141],{},"Merced Unified School District"," and surrounding county institutions navigate the same K-12 and workforce questions the rest of the Valley faces. The articles below cover both the campus research story and the broader applied uses around the city and county.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":144},[145],{"id":130,"depth":11,"text":131},"Merced County","Merced punches above its weight in AI research, anchored by UC Merced — a leading West Coast hub for AI in agriculture, climate, autonomous systems, and health. Coverage on this page tracks both academic research coming out of the campus and how AI is showing up across Merced's schools, businesses, and county institutions.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fmerced",{"title":125,"description":10},"cities\u002Fmerced","merced","pSWWlEzMdcv2_RZrUKdkEHU3bixNboePGdHbSdd1m34",{"id":155,"title":156,"body":157,"county":173,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":174,"meta":175,"navigation":21,"path":176,"seo":177,"stem":178,"tag":179,"__hash__":180},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fmodesto.md","Modesto",{"type":7,"value":158,"toc":170},[159,163],[61,160,162],{"id":161},"ai-in-modesto","AI in Modesto",[66,164,165,166,169],{},"Modesto's AI conversation tends to combine ag-tech adoption stories with workforce-readiness questions for the city's small and mid-sized employers. ",[70,167,168],{},"CSU Stanislaus"," and the regional community college network shape the higher-ed angle. Coverage below follows Modesto-area AI announcements and the wider Stanislaus County context.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":171},[172],{"id":161,"depth":11,"text":162},"Stanislaus County","Modesto and Stanislaus County sit between the Bay Area and the southern Valley, and their AI story reflects that bridging role — from agriculture and food processing to the **California State University Stanislaus** community to small businesses adapting to AI-driven changes in marketing, hiring, and operations.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fmodesto",{"title":156,"description":10},"cities\u002Fmodesto","modesto","l75Dc40MX8wTb4lD088Yx9we4ypuDwmcvE-uEdqqREc",{"id":182,"title":183,"body":184,"county":200,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":201,"meta":202,"navigation":21,"path":203,"seo":204,"stem":205,"tag":206,"__hash__":207},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fstockton.md","Stockton",{"type":7,"value":185,"toc":197},[186,190],[61,187,189],{"id":188},"ai-in-stockton","AI in Stockton",[66,191,192,193,196],{},"Stockton's economic base in logistics, healthcare, and higher education gives the city a different AI profile than the southern Valley. ",[70,194,195],{},"University of the Pacific"," anchors the academic conversation, while San Joaquin County government, hospitals, and warehouse operators are navigating practical adoption questions: cost, training, security, workforce impact. The articles below track Stockton-area AI announcements and the broader San Joaquin County context.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":198},[199],{"id":188,"depth":11,"text":189},"San Joaquin County","Stockton and San Joaquin County sit at the northern edge of the Central Valley, where logistics, healthcare, and the University of the Pacific shape the local AI adoption story. Coverage on this page follows how AI is being put to work — and questioned — across San Joaquin County's institutions, employers, and public services.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fstockton",{"title":183,"description":10},"cities\u002Fstockton","stockton","TYEBK9akp2HbpAFmYY67FeKt7Rs7L8tvtYeQBtgJAHw",{"id":209,"title":210,"body":211,"county":227,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":228,"meta":229,"navigation":21,"path":230,"seo":231,"stem":232,"tag":233,"__hash__":234},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fvisalia.md","Visalia",{"type":7,"value":212,"toc":224},[213,217],[61,214,216],{"id":215},"ai-in-visalia","AI in Visalia",[66,218,219,220,223],{},"Visalia's AI footprint is grounded in the practical adoption stories that come with a Tulare County economy built around agriculture, food processing, and rural healthcare. ",[70,221,222],{},"College of the Sequoias"," and the surrounding K-12 districts anchor the education conversation. The articles below cover Visalia-area AI developments and the Tulare County context, with a focus on applied uses rather than research or model development.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":225},[226],{"id":215,"depth":11,"text":216},"Tulare County","Visalia is the largest city in Tulare County and a center for agriculture, healthcare, and county-government services in the southern Central Valley. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is being adopted across Tulare County's schools, hospitals, ag operations, and small business community.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fvisalia",{"title":210,"description":10},"cities\u002Fvisalia","visalia","gN4g7aAl-cqD4FfSTgtTAarltUoKLh8NFlPzCbZngqU",{"id":236,"title":237,"archived":238,"author":239,"body":240,"date":347,"dateModified":347,"description":348,"extension":13,"meta":349,"navigation":21,"path":350,"rawbody":351,"seo":352,"sitemap":353,"stem":354,"tags":355,"__hash__":359},"news\u002Fnews\u002Fcalifornia-lawmakers-reach-deal-on-data-center-power-rules-grid-costs.md","California lawmakers reach deal on data center power rules, grid costs",false,"Sam Patel",{"type":7,"value":241,"toc":340},[242,246,250,269,272,275,279,282,285,289,292,295,298,302,305,308,311,327,330,334],[243,244,237],"h1",{"id":245},"california-lawmakers-reach-deal-on-data-center-power-rules-grid-costs",[61,247,249],{"id":248},"key-takeaways","Key Takeaways",[251,252,253,257,260,263,266],"ol",{},[254,255,256],"li",{},"Lawmakers struck a Friday deal to regulate data center electricity costs and rates.",[254,258,259],{},"SB 886 by Sen. Steve Padilla and a companion bill by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur anchor the package.",[254,261,262],{},"The plan directs the CPUC to write special rates and charge developers for grid upgrades.",[254,264,265],{},"CAISO estimates up to $1.8 billion in transmission upgrades in PG&E territory.",[254,267,268],{},"Tulare County has a moratorium on data centers while it studies local proposals.",[66,270,271],{},"$1.8 billion. That is the California grid operator’s estimate for transmission work tied to rising data center demand in PG&E territory, where most current and proposed sites sit. If those costs land on general bills, cities like Fresno, Modesto, and Stockton feel it first. A late-Friday compromise in Sacramento aims to put more of that tab on data center developers and to have the California Public Utilities Commission set special rates for the industry.",[66,273,274],{},"Lawmakers and advocates say the goal is simple, to protect other customers from higher bills and to track big power and water draws from the facilities. The deal came together Friday, Aug. 28, after weeks of pressure from tech companies and utility reform groups at the Capitol.",[61,276,278],{"id":277},"what-the-bills-do","What the bills do",[66,280,281],{},"Two measures form the backbone. SB 886 from Sen. Steve Padilla of Chula Vista, and a companion by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur of Los Angeles, tell the CPUC to create data center-specific electricity rules and rates and to spell out who pays for new power and upgrades. The package carries through the idea that developers cover broader grid work their projects trigger. Separate transparency bills on energy and water reporting also cleared the Legislature this session.",[66,283,284],{},"Matthew Freedman with The Utility Reform Network called the language a guardrail so data center costs aren’t \"being foisted on other customers.\" The Data Center Coalition objected to singling out one class of power users. Tech giants including Google, Meta, and Amazon, plus AI firms Anthropic and OpenAI, had lobbyists in the mix.",[61,286,288],{"id":287},"why-this-matters-in-the-valley","Why this matters in the Valley",[66,290,291],{},"Most of the growth pressure sits in PG&E’s service area, which includes much of the Central Valley. CAISO’s planning document pegs as much as $1.8 billion in transmission spending tied to data centers in that footprint. Not the other ratepayers.",[66,293,294],{},"Closer to home, Tulare County adopted a moratorium in August while residents and the county study small data center proposals at local fairgrounds. If the CPUC orders developers to shoulder more upgrade costs, local officials from Visalia to Madera will have a clearer view of who pays for lines and substations when projects come knocking.",[66,296,297],{},"PG&E argued this summer that the stricter Senate plan could push up costs and slow needed work. Utility reform groups counter that without clear rules, bills in places like Merced and Fresno could creep up as the grid is retooled for a handful of very large customers.",[61,299,301],{"id":300},"who-pushed-who-balked","Who pushed, who balked",[66,303,304],{},"Gov. Gavin Newsom’s team took part in the endgame. Environmental groups lined up behind Padilla’s approach on paying for upgrades. Business groups said tight rules, high power prices, and limited land already make California a hard place to build, and they warned that the state could miss jobs and tax revenue if builders go elsewhere.",[66,306,307],{},"Assemblymember Diane Papan, whose earlier water disclosure bill was vetoed last year, said she wants cooperation, not bans. \"Help us help you,\" she said.",[66,309,310],{},"On a bench outside the hearing room, a yellow legal pad sat crumpled next to a cold paper cup.",[66,312,313],{},[314,315,316,317,320,321,326],"em",{},"Central Valley AI is produced by the ",[70,318,319],{},"CVAI Newsdesk"," team and developed by ",[322,323,37],"a",{"href":38,"rel":324},[325],"nofollow",", a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.",[328,329],"hr",{},[61,331,333],{"id":332},"source","Source",[66,335,336],{},[322,337,338],{"href":338,"rel":339},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.latimes.com\u002Fcalifornia\u002Fstory\u002F2026-08-29\u002Fcalifornia-lawmakers-reach-deal-in-high-stakes-fight-over-regulating-data-centers",[325],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":341},[342,343,344,345,346],{"id":248,"depth":11,"text":249},{"id":277,"depth":11,"text":278},{"id":287,"depth":11,"text":288},{"id":300,"depth":11,"text":301},{"id":332,"depth":11,"text":333},"2026-09-02","The compromise orders the CPUC to set special rates and pushes more grid upgrade costs onto data center developers. Central Valley counties could see fewer pass-through charges.",{},"\u002Fnews\u002Fcalifornia-lawmakers-reach-deal-on-data-center-power-rules-grid-costs","---\nauthor: Sam Patel\ndate: '2026-09-02'\ndateModified: '2026-09-02'\ndescription: The compromise orders the CPUC to set special rates and pushes more grid\n  upgrade costs onto data center developers. Central Valley counties could see fewer\n  pass-through charges.\ntags:\n- policy\n- energy\n- central valley\ntitle: California lawmakers reach deal on data center power rules, grid costs\n---\n\n# California lawmakers reach deal on data center power rules, grid costs\n\n## Key Takeaways\n\n1. Lawmakers struck a Friday deal to regulate data center electricity costs and rates.\n2. SB 886 by Sen. Steve Padilla and a companion bill by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur anchor the package.\n3. The plan directs the CPUC to write special rates and charge developers for grid upgrades.\n4. CAISO estimates up to $1.8 billion in transmission upgrades in PG&E territory.\n5. Tulare County has a moratorium on data centers while it studies local proposals.\n\n$1.8 billion. That is the California grid operator’s estimate for transmission work tied to rising data center demand in PG&E territory, where most current and proposed sites sit. If those costs land on general bills, cities like Fresno, Modesto, and Stockton feel it first. A late-Friday compromise in Sacramento aims to put more of that tab on data center developers and to have the California Public Utilities Commission set special rates for the industry.\n\nLawmakers and advocates say the goal is simple, to protect other customers from higher bills and to track big power and water draws from the facilities. The deal came together Friday, Aug. 28, after weeks of pressure from tech companies and utility reform groups at the Capitol.\n\n## What the bills do\n\nTwo measures form the backbone. SB 886 from Sen. Steve Padilla of Chula Vista, and a companion by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur of Los Angeles, tell the CPUC to create data center-specific electricity rules and rates and to spell out who pays for new power and upgrades. The package carries through the idea that developers cover broader grid work their projects trigger. Separate transparency bills on energy and water reporting also cleared the Legislature this session.\n\nMatthew Freedman with The Utility Reform Network called the language a guardrail so data center costs aren’t \"being foisted on other customers.\" The Data Center Coalition objected to singling out one class of power users. Tech giants including Google, Meta, and Amazon, plus AI firms Anthropic and OpenAI, had lobbyists in the mix.\n\n## Why this matters in the Valley\n\nMost of the growth pressure sits in PG&E’s service area, which includes much of the Central Valley. CAISO’s planning document pegs as much as $1.8 billion in transmission spending tied to data centers in that footprint. Not the other ratepayers.\n\nCloser to home, Tulare County adopted a moratorium in August while residents and the county study small data center proposals at local fairgrounds. If the CPUC orders developers to shoulder more upgrade costs, local officials from Visalia to Madera will have a clearer view of who pays for lines and substations when projects come knocking.\n\nPG&E argued this summer that the stricter Senate plan could push up costs and slow needed work. Utility reform groups counter that without clear rules, bills in places like Merced and Fresno could creep up as the grid is retooled for a handful of very large customers.\n\n## Who pushed, who balked\n\nGov. Gavin Newsom’s team took part in the endgame. Environmental groups lined up behind Padilla’s approach on paying for upgrades. Business groups said tight rules, high power prices, and limited land already make California a hard place to build, and they warned that the state could miss jobs and tax revenue if builders go elsewhere.\n\nAssemblymember Diane Papan, whose earlier water disclosure bill was vetoed last year, said she wants cooperation, not bans. \"Help us help you,\" she said.\n\nOn a bench outside the hearing room, a yellow legal pad sat crumpled next to a cold paper cup.\n\n*Central Valley AI is produced by the **CVAI Newsdesk** team and developed by [Kaweah Tech](https:\u002F\u002Fkaweah.tech), a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.*\n\n---\n\n## Source\n\nhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.latimes.com\u002Fcalifornia\u002Fstory\u002F2026-08-29\u002Fcalifornia-lawmakers-reach-deal-in-high-stakes-fight-over-regulating-data-centers\n",{"title":237,"description":348},{"loc":350},"news\u002Fcalifornia-lawmakers-reach-deal-on-data-center-power-rules-grid-costs",[356,357,358],"policy","energy","central valley","fPGEuPzp0F_gvX9Jppjvmv_6ScHOvfBkb-TFYaYtVaI",1788309230288]