EnergyPolitics

Untangling the accounting fight reshaping Google’s Arkansas power deal

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 21/10/2026, 23:08:26 UTC.

Briefings

Google and Entergy Arkansas amended their West Memphis data center agreement to resolve a controversy over how to finance a $1.6 billion Cypress Solar project. The new plan treats Google's payments as utility revenue rather than construction contributions, shifting costs to customers over time. Entergy plans to remove the GAJA rider in late 2028 and offset costs through base rates, while adding 1,400 MWh of battery capacity and a 440-MW solar PPA. This marks a shift from the initial approach that faced public backlash over ratepayer charges.

Key points

• Google and Entergy Arkansas amended their West Memphis data center agreement to treat Google's payments as utility revenue rather than construction contributions, shifting costs to customers over time.
• The new plan removes the GAJA rider in late 2028 and offsets costs through base rates, while adding 1,400 MWh of battery capacity and a 440-MW solar PPA.

Context

This finding addresses a key election issue where utilities and developers face scrutiny over AI infrastructure costs. The Arkansas 2025 Generating Arkansas Jobs Act allows utilities to charge customers for infrastructure financing during construction, creating the controversy over whether Google's payments should immediately reduce plant investment or be offset over time.

Limitations

Evidence is limited to a single article from October 2026. The article does not provide full background on why Entergy chose this approach initially, nor does it contain additional context beyond the specific West Memphis agreement details.

Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 21/10/2026, 23:15:11 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.

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