Alphabet’s X launched Anori as an independent entity after raising $26 million in a funding round led by Prologis and Builders VC, with Series X Capital also participating. This marks X’s first spinout of 2026, following last year’s exit of Taara and tying into a broader strategy of incubating infrastructure and technology ventures.

Anori addresses the two-to-four-year window between project approval and groundbreaking by uniting architects, engineers, financiers and regulators on a single platform. Its initial target is three-to-six-story multifamily buildings of 5 to 100 units, aiming to surface compliance conflicts within weeks instead of months to reduce cost overruns and project delays.

Google signed contracts with five U.S. utilities, including Entergy Arkansas, Minnesota Power and DTE Energy, to curtail up to 1 GW of data-center electricity use during periods of peak grid demand. These demand response deals expand on earlier agreements and make a significant portion of Google’s load available for temporary reduction when the grid is under strain.

By committing 1 GW for curtailment, Google enhances grid stability and lowers blackout risk during extreme weather events, while maintaining service continuity through backup power and workload shifting. This strategy supports the company’s rapid data-center expansion and mitigates one of the key challenges in meeting the growing energy demands of AI operations.