We scour the internet for infrastructure news affecting the region so you don’t have to! Here’s what’s happened in the past week:
When it comes to total water use, AI data centers are a drop in the bucket [Ars Technica]
A new Amazon sustainability report shows that AI‑driven data centers, while locally impactful, represent only a tiny fraction of national water consumption. Amazon withdrew 2.5 billion gallons of water globally in 2025—large in isolation but negligible compared to the 117 trillion gallons withdrawn in the U.S. in 2015. The real pressure point is local: Meta’s Georgia facility uses 10% of its county’s water, and Northern Virginia could see data centers consuming nearly a third of local supply by 2050. Companies are pursuing efficiency upgrades and replenishment projects, but communities in water‑stressed regions remain wary.
Read more: https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/06/when-it-comes-to-total-water-use-ai-data-centers-are-a-drop-in-the-bucket/
Funding fix sought for Pinelands, Highlands school districts [NJ Spotlight News]
New Jersey lawmakers are advancing a bipartisan bill to restore funding to districts constrained by Highlands and Pinelands preservation rules. The bill is sponsored by State Sen. Latham Tiver, who represents several Pinelands communities and has been outspoken about the inequities created by the S2 school‑aid formula. Tiver argues that these towns have been penalized twice—first by strict land‑use limits that prevent tax‑base growth, and then by steep aid cuts.
As Tiver put it, “We asked these towns to preserve land for the benefit of the entire state, and then we turned around and cut their school aid as if they had the same development opportunities as everyone else.”
The “Fairness for School Districts in Development Restricted Areas Act” would provide supplemental aid based on preserved acreage, with caps tied to enrollment. Supporters say it corrects a structural inequity for environmentally restricted towns; critics warn it could reopen broader school‑aid debates.
Read more: https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/06/funding-fix-sought-for-pinelands-highlands-school-districts/
Here’s what replacing this busy but ailing Delaware River bridge will look like [NJ.com]
The aging Delaware River Turnpike Bridge between New Jersey and Pennsylvania is set for a full replacement supported by a $600 million federal grant. The new steel tied‑arch design will widen lanes, improve shoulders, and add modern safety features. The project follows years of deterioration concerns, including a major crack discovered in 2016 that forced an emergency shutdown. Officials say the replacement will improve safety, reduce congestion, and support long‑term freight and commuter mobility.
Read more: https://www.nj.com/news/2026/06/heres-what-replacing-this-busy-but-ailing-delaware-river-bridge.html
Navigating Nuclear: New York and New Jersey [National Law Review]
New York and New Jersey are undergoing a major pro‑nuclear policy shift after decades of resistance. New Jersey lifted its 50‑year moratorium on new nuclear plants in April 2026, and Gov. Mikie Sherrill has created a Nuclear Power Task Force to accelerate next‑generation reactor development. The state’s existing nuclear fleet—Salem Units 1 and 2 and Hope Creek, all located on Artificial Island in Salem County—remains the backbone of New Jersey’s clean‑energy system.
Salem and Hope Creek status:
- Salem Units 1 & 2 (PWRs) began operating in 1977 and 1981.
- Unit 1 license expires 2036
- Unit 2 license expires 2040
- PSEG plans to file for subsequent license renewal in 2027
- Hope Creek (BWR) began operating in 1986.
- Licensed through 2046
- PSEG also plans a subsequent license renewal filing in 2027
Together, the three reactors generate over 40% of New Jersey’s electricity and more than 80% of its zero‑carbon power, making the site the fourth‑largest nuclear generating complex in the United States. New York, meanwhile, is pursuing an 8.4‑GW “Nuclear Reliability Backbone,” including solicitations for 1 GW of new advanced reactors and expanded collaboration with Ontario.
Read more: https://natlawreview.com/article/navigating-nuclear-new-york-and-new-jersey
Highway reconstruction project transforms notorious South Jersey interchange [Tri‑State Infrastructure News]
The nearly $900 million Direct Connection project—one of the largest infrastructure undertakings in South Jersey history—continues to reshape the I‑295/I‑76/Route 42 interchange. Now in Phase 3, the project is eliminating the dangerous “Al‑Jo’s Curve,” rebuilding ramps, replacing bridges, and constructing a massive new I‑295 flyover. Construction began in 2013 and is expected to continue into 2032, with major engineering redesigns required after the 2021 collapse of “Wall 22.”
Read more: https://tristateinfrastructurenews.com/highway-reconstruction-project-transforms-notorious-south-jersey-interchange/
Repauno Terminal positions South Jersey as a growing energy export hub [Tri‑State Infrastructure News]
The Repauno Port & Rail Terminal on the Delaware River is expanding into a major LPG export hub, backed by new underground storage caverns and deep‑water berths. The terminal plans to scale export capacity from 24 Mb/d to 96 Mb/d, with developers highlighting job creation, improved energy security, and South Jersey’s emerging role in global propane and butane markets.
Read more: https://tristateinfrastructurenews.com/repauno-terminal-positions-south-jersey-as-growing-energy-export-hub/
Gateway Project reaches another major milestone [Tri‑State Infrastructure News]
The Gateway Program has cleared another milestone toward constructing new Hudson River rail tunnels and rehabilitating the existing 113‑year‑old tubes. The advancement accelerates procurement and funding timelines, keeping the project on track to expand Northeast Corridor capacity and improve reliability for Amtrak and NJ Transit.
Read more: https://tristateinfrastructurenews.com/gateway-project-reaches-another-major-milestone/
Are data centers the villains in the battle over electricity? [Carnegie Endowment]
A Carnegie analysis argues that while data centers aren’t inherently “villains,” their explosive growth is straining regional grids and prompting utilities to prioritize power delivery to hyperscalers. Communities in Virginia, Nevada, and California are pushing back over rising rates, noise, and new gas‑fired generation built to serve data‑center loads. Policymakers are exploring requirements for tech companies to fund grid upgrades, invest in clean energy, and mitigate local impacts.
Read more: https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2026/06/data-centers-electricity-energy-climate-villains
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