CMS Energy CEO predicts data center ‘progress’ after midterms — SkimNews
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- Garrick Rochow predicted “more progress” on local permitting for the controversial Microsoft data center after next week’s elections, saying political campaigns were driving much of the opposition; the project could draw up to 1 GW.
- CMS Energy said the Microsoft project was continuing through zoning in multiple locations after an April permitting setback, even as it intentionally omitted a slide depicting Consumers Energy’s multi-gigawatt large-load pipeline from the quarterly presentation.
- Consumers Energy had energized about 450 MW of new large load out of 745 MW of signed five-year contracts covering a medium-sized data center plus semiconductor, food-processing and manufacturing facilities, but not Microsoft.
- CMS Energy said 1 GW of incremental large load could drive $2 billion to $5 billion in utility capital investment.
- CMS Energy reported third-quarter 2026 earnings of $0.39 per share, down from $0.92 in third-quarter 2025, with the decline reflecting asset impairments and restructuring at NorthStar Clean Energy.
- CMS Energy has agreed or closed sales of more than 35% of NorthStar Clean Energy’s assets, with most of the remainder in advanced talks and the restructuring targeted for completion by year-end, allowing at least $500 million to be reallocated to the utility.
- CMS Energy reported a $303 million net cost through September for operating J.H. Campbell after $344 million in MISO market revenues, plans to petition the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to recover the full net cost, and expects the U.S. Department of Energy to appeal a ruling invalidating the original emergency order.
Why it matters: Consumers Energy has energized 450 MW and holds 745 MW in signed contracts, while the 1 GW Microsoft project remains outside those contracts and still in local zoning. That makes the election-driven permitting claim material to utility capital investment the company estimates at $2 billion to $5 billion for an incremental 1 GW.
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